Soybean cultivar p-17

ABSTRACT

A multifoliate soybean cultivar designated P-17 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar P-17, to the plants of soybean cultivar P-17, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar P-17, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar P-17. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar P-17. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar P-17, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar P-17 with another soybean cultivar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive soybean cultivar designated P-17, which is unique in that it produces more than three leaves per leaflet (i.e., is multifoliate). All publications cited in this application are herein incorporated by reference.

There are numerous steps in the development of any novel, desirable plant germplasm. Plant breeding begins with the analysis and definition of problems and weaknesses of the current germplasm, the establishment of program goals, and the definition of specific breeding objectives. The next step is selection of germplasm that possesses the traits to meet the program goals. The goal is to combine in a single variety an improved combination of desirable traits from the parental germplasm. These important traits may include but are not limited to higher seed yield, resistance to diseases and insects, better stems and roots, tolerance to drought and heat, altered fatty acid profile, abiotic stress tolerance, improvements in compositional traits, and better agronomic quality.

These processes, which lead to the final step of marketing and distribution, can take from six to twelve years from the time the first cross is made. Therefore, development of new cultivars is a time-consuming process that requires precise forward planning, efficient use of resources, and a minimum of changes in direction.

Soybean is primarily grown as an oil seed crop in the United States. In fact, soybean is America's primary source of vegetable oil. The oil can be used for frying, as a food ingredient, and for industrial uses such as paint, biodiesel, plastic, fibers, detergent, cosmetics, and lubricants. Soybean also contains a high percentage of digestible protein in its seed and foliage. Soybean seeds can be ground into meal which is fed to animals or it can be processed into protein concentrates and meat extenders for the human diet. Soybean can also be fed as a whole food in the human diet. Soybean contains essential amino acids and nutrients that offer a healthy, less expensive replacements for animal protein in diets.

Soybean foliage has similar nutritional qualities to alfalfa. Soybean could be grazed at nearly any stage from flowering up to physiological maturity. It can be ensiled with corn to create a nearly perfect dairy ration. Many forage legumes begin losing protein after flowering. Soybean is superior for hay and silage in that both the foliage and the grain provide digestible protein.

In plant breeding, “the amount of production per unit area is a trait of primary importance.” (Fehr, 1987). For most soybeans and soybean breeding programs, grain yield is the primary focus. Farmers are paid on the basis of the amount of grain that crosses the buyer's scale. In the case of forage soybean breeding, grain yield is important for efficient production, but leaves are of particular value for tonnage. Tonnage is measured in pounds of green matter harvested per acre. The productivity of many animals such as cattle, deer, sheep, and other ruminants depends on the quality of the forages in their diet. Forage soybeans are often harvested as green leaf tissue long before the soybean pod has developed. Total leaf area contributes to the quality and the total tonnage of plant matter harvested per acre. One way to increase tonnage is to focus on the size of the leaf. Another way is to breed for more leaves per plant. Forage soybeans should also contain more nodes per plant. Typical soybeans contain 18-22 nodes, whereas true forage soybeans can contain as many as 36 nodes per plant.

Wild soybean (Glycine soja), is an annual plant in the legume family and is the closest living relative of soybean, an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a continuing goal of soybean plant breeding is to develop stable, high yielding soybean cultivars that are agronomically sound. The reasons for this goal are to maximize the amount of grain produced on the land used and to supply food for both animals and humans. To accomplish this goal, the soybean breeder must select and develop soybean plants that have the traits that result in superior varieties.

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.

According to the invention, there is provided a new soybean cultivar designated P-17. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar P-17, to the plants and plant parts of soybean cultivar P-17 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar P-17 with itself or another soybean variety, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis, genetic modification or transformation of soybean cultivar P-17.

The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plant produced by those methods.

The invention further relates to a method of producing a commodity plant product from soybean cultivar P-17, such as protein concentrate, protein isolate, grain, soybean hulls, vegetable soybean, meal, flour, or oil, and to the commodity plant product produced by the method.

Another aspect of the current invention is a soybean plant further comprising a single locus conversion. In one embodiment, the soybean plant is defined as comprising the single locus conversion and otherwise capable of expressing all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the soybean cultivar P-17. In particular embodiments of the invention, the single locus conversion may comprise a transgenic gene which has been introduced by genetic transformation into the soybean cultivar P-17 or a progenitor thereof. A transgenic or non-transgenic single locus conversion can also be introduced by backcrossing, as is well known in the art. In still other embodiments of the invention, the single locus conversion may comprise a dominant or recessive allele. The locus conversion may confer potentially any trait upon the single locus converted plant, including herbicide resistance, insect resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, male fertility or sterility, and improved nutritional quality.

The invention further relates to methods for genetically modifying a soybean plant of the soybean cultivar P-17 and to the modified soybean plant produced by those methods. The genetic modification methods may include, but are not limited to mutation, genome editing, gene silencing, RNA interference, backcross conversion, genetic transformation, single and multiple gene conversion, and/or direct gene transfer.

In another aspect, the present invention provides regenerable cells for use in tissue culture of soybean plant P-17. The tissue culture will preferably be capable of regenerating plants having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the foregoing soybean plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially the same genotype as the foregoing soybean plant. Preferably, the regenerable cells in such tissue cultures will be embryos, protoplasts, meristematic cells, callus, pollen, leaves, ovules, anthers, cotyledons, hypocotyl, pistils, roots, root tips, flowers, seeds, petiole, pods, or stems. Still further, the present invention provides soybean plants regenerated from the tissue cultures of the invention.

This invention further relates to the F₁ hybrid soybean plants and plant parts grown from the hybrid seed produced by crossing soybean cultivar P-17 to a second soybean plant. Still further included in the invention are the seeds of an F₁ hybrid plant produced with the soybean cultivar P-17 as one parent, the second generation (F₂) hybrid soybean plant grown from the seed of the F₁ hybrid plant, and the seeds of the F₂ hybrid plant. Thus, any such methods using the soybean cultivar P-17 are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses to populations, and the like. All plants produced using soybean cultivar P-17 as at least one parent are within the scope of this invention. Advantageously, the soybean cultivar could be used in crosses with other, different, soybean plants to produce first generation (F₁) soybean hybrid seeds and plants with superior characteristics.

Still yet another aspect of the invention is a method for developing a soybean plant in a soybean breeding program comprising: a) obtaining a soybean plant, or its parts, of the cultivar P-17; and b) employing said plant or parts as a source of breeding material using plant breeding techniques. In the method, the plant breeding techniques may include, but are not limited to, pedigree breeding, recurrent selection, mass selection, single or multiple-seed descent, bulk selection, backcrossing, open pollination breeding, restriction fragment length polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection, making double haploids, and transformation. In certain embodiments of the invention, the soybean plant of cultivar P-17 is used as the male or female parent.

This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar P-17. Still yet another aspect of the invention is a method of producing a soybean plant derived from the soybean cultivar P-17, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a progeny plant derived from soybean cultivar P-17 by crossing a plant of the soybean cultivar P-17 with a second soybean plant; and (b) crossing the progeny plant with itself or a second plant to produce a progeny plant of a subsequent generation which is derived from a plant of the soybean cultivar P-17. In one embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises: (c) crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself or a second plant; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) for, in some embodiments, at least 2, 3, 4 or more additional generations to produce an inbred soybean plant derived from the soybean cultivar P-17. Also provided by the invention is a plant produced by this and the other methods of the invention.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method of producing a soybean plant derived from the soybean cultivar P-17 further comprises: (a) crossing the soybean cultivar P-17-derived soybean plant with itself or another soybean plant to yield additional soybean cultivar P-17-derived progeny soybean seed; (b) growing the progeny soybean seed of step (a) under plant growth conditions to yield additional soybean cultivar P-17-derived soybean plants; and (c) repeating the crossing and growing steps of (a) and (b) to generate further soybean cultivar P-17-derived soybean plants. In specific embodiments, steps (a) and (b) may be repeated at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 or more times as desired. The invention still further provides a soybean plant produced by this and the foregoing methods.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a composition comprising a seed of soybean cultivar P-17 comprised in plant seed growth media. In certain embodiments, the plant seed growth media is a soil or synthetic cultivation medium. In specific embodiments, the growth medium may be comprised in a container or may, for example, be soil in a field. Plant seed growth media are well known to those of skill in the art and include, but are in no way limited to, soil or synthetic cultivation medium. Advantageously, plant seed growth media can provide adequate physical support for seeds and can retain moisture and/or nutritional components. Examples of characteristics for soils that may be desirable in certain embodiments can be found, for instance, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,932,166 and 4,707,176. Synthetic plant cultivation media are also well known in the art and may, in certain embodiments, comprise polymers or hydrogels. Examples of such compositions are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,537.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by study of the following descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a photo of a seedling of multifoliate soybean cultivar P-17 having seven leaflets.

FIG. 2 shows a photo of a seedling of a normal unifoliate soybean having two leaflets.

FIG. 3 shows a photo of leaves of multifoliate soybean cultivar P-17 compared to leaves of normal unifoliate soybean.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the description and tables that follow, a number of terms are used. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms, the following definitions are provided:

Abiotic stress. As used herein, abiotic stress relates to all non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment. Examples of abiotic stress include, but are not limited to, drought, flooding, salinity, temperature, and climate change.

Allele. Any of one or more alternative forms of a genetic sequence. In a diploid cell or organism, the two alleles of a given sequence typically occupy corresponding loci on a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Alter. The utilization of up-regulation, down-regulation, or gene silencing.

Backcrossing. A process in which a breeder crosses progeny back to one of the parental genotypes one or more times. Commonly used to introduce one or more locus conversions from one genetic background into another.

Breeding. The genetic manipulation of living organisms.

BU/A. Bushels per Acre. The seed yield in bushels/acre is the actual yield of the grain at harvest.

Brown stem rot. This is a visual disease score from 1 to 9 comparing all genotypes in a given test. The score is based on leaf symptoms of yellowing and necrosis caused by brown stem rot. Visual scores range from a score of 9, which indicates no symptoms, to a score of 1 which indicates severe symptoms of leaf yellowing and necrosis.

Cell. Cell as used herein includes a plant cell, whether isolated, in tissue culture or incorporated in a plant or plant part. The cell can be a cell, such as a somatic cell, of the variety having the same set of chromosomes as the cells of the deposited seed, or, if the cell contains a locus conversion or transgene, otherwise having the same or essentially the same set of chromosomes as the cells of the deposited seed.

Cotyledon. A cotyledon is a type of seed leaf. The cotyledon contains the food storage tissues of the seed.

Cross-pollination. Fertilization by the union of two gametes from different plants.

Diploid. A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Embryo. The embryo is the small plant contained within a mature seed.

Emergence. This score indicates the ability of the seed to emerge when planted 3″ deep in sand at a controlled temperature of 25° C. The number of plants that emerge each day are counted. Based on this data, each genotype is given a 1 to 9 score based on its rate of emergence and percent of emergence. A score of 9 indicates an excellent rate and percent of emergence, an intermediate score of 5 indicates average ratings and a 1 score indicates a very poor rate and percent of emergence.

Essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics. A plant having essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of a designated plant has all of the characteristics of the plant that are otherwise present when compared in the same environment, other than an occasional variant trait that might arise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

F #. The “F” symbol denotes the filial generation, and the # is the generation number, such as F₁, F₂, F₃, etc.

F₁ Hybrid. The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenic plants.

Frogeye leaf spot. A fungal disease caused by Cercospora sojina. Plants are evaluated using a visual fungal disease score from 1 to 9 comparing all genotypes in a given trial to known resistant and susceptible checks in the trial. The score is based upon the number and size of leaf lesions. A score of 1 indicates severe leaf necrosis lesions, whereas a score of 9 indicates no lesions.

Gene. As used herein, “gene” refers to a unit of inheritance corresponding to DNA or RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism.

Gene silencing. The interruption or suppression of the expression of a gene at the level of transcription or translation.

Genetically modified. Describes an organism that has received genetic material from another organism, or had its genetic material modified, resulting in a change in one or more of its phenotypic characteristics. Methods used to modify, introduce or delete the genetic material may include mutation breeding, genome editing, RNA interference, gene silencing, backcross conversion, genetic transformation, single and multiple gene conversion, and/or direct gene transfer.

Genome editing. A type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, replaced, modified or removed from a genome using artificially engineered nucleases or other targeted changes using homologous recombination. Examples include but are not limited to use of zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), TAL effector nucleases (TALENs) and CRISPR/Cas9, and other CRISPR and Cas related technologies. (Ma et. al., Molecular Plant, 9:961-974 (2016); Belhaj et. al., Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 32:76-84 (2015)).

Genotype. Refers to the genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid. A cell or organism having one set of the two sets of chromosomes in a diploid.

Hilum. This refers to the scar left on the seed that marks the place where the seed was attached to the pod prior to the seed being harvested.

Hypocotyl. A hypocotyl is the portion of an embryo or seedling between the cotyledons and the root. Therefore, it can be considered a transition zone between shoot and root.

Iron deficiency chlorosis. Iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) is a yellowing of the leaves caused by a lack of iron in the soybean plant. Iron is essential in the formation of chlorophyll, which gives plants their green color. In high pH soils iron becomes insoluble and cannot be absorbed by plant roots. Soybean cultivars differ in their genetic ability to utilize the available iron. A score of 9 means no stunting of the plants or yellowing of the leaves and a score of 1 indicates the plants are dead or dying caused by iron deficiency, a score of 5 means plants have intermediate health with some leaf yellowing.

Linkage. Refers to a phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend to segregate together more often than expected by chance if their transmission was independent.

Linkage disequilibrium. Refers to a phenomenon wherein alleles tend to remain together in linkage groups when segregating from parents to offspring, with a greater frequency than expected from their individual frequencies.

Linoleic acid percent. Linoleic acid is one of the five most abundant fatty acids in soybean seeds. It is measured by gas chromatography and is reported as a percent of the total oil content.

Locus. A defined segment of DNA.

Lodging. As used herein, lodging is rated on a scale and measures whether plants are erect or are lying on the ground.

Maturity date. Plants are considered mature when 95% of the pods have reached their mature color. The number of days are calculated either from August 31 or from the planting date.

Maturity group (MG). This refers to an agreed upon industry division of groups of soybean varieties based on zones in which they are adapted, primarily according to day length or latitude. They consist of very long day length varieties (Groups 000, 00, 0), and extend to very short day length varieties (Groups VII, VIII, IX, X).

Nucleic acid. An acidic, chainlike biological macromolecule consisting of multiple repeat units of phosphoric acid, sugar and purine and pyrimidine bases.

Oil or Oil percent. Soybean seeds contain a considerable amount of oil. Oil is measured by NIR spectrophotometry and is reported as a percentage basis.

Oleic acid percent. Oleic acid is one of the five most abundant fatty acids in soybean seeds. It is measured by gas chromatography and is reported as a percent of the total oil content.

Palmitic acid percent. Palmitic acid is one of the five most abundant fatty acids in soybean seeds. It is measured by gas chromatography and is reported as a percent of the total oil content.

Pedigree. Refers to the lineage or genealogical descent of a plant.

Pedigree distance. Relationship among generations based on their ancestral links as evidenced in pedigrees. May be measured by the distance of the pedigree from a given starting point in the ancestry.

Percent identity. Percent identity as used herein refers to the comparison of the homozygous alleles of two soybean varieties. Percent identity is determined by comparing a statistically significant number of the homozygous alleles of two developed varieties. For example, a percent identity of 90% between soybean variety 1 and soybean variety 2 means that the two varieties have the same allele at 90% of their loci.

Percent similarity. Percent similarity as used herein refers to the comparison of the homozygous alleles of a soybean variety such as soybean cultivar P-17 with another plant, and if the homozygous allele of soybean cultivar P-17 matches at least one of the alleles from the other plant, then they are scored as similar. Percent similarity is determined by comparing a statistically significant number of loci and recording the number of loci with similar alleles as a percentage. A percent similarity of 90% between soybean cultivar P-17 and another plant means that soybean cultivar P-17 matches at least one of the alleles of the other plant at 90% of the loci.

Phytophthora tolerance. Tolerance to Phytophthora root rot is rated on a scale of 1 to 9, with a score of 9 being the best or highest tolerance ranging down to a score of 1 which indicates the plants have no tolerance to Phytophthora.

Phenotypic score. The Phenotypic Score is a visual rating of general appearance of the variety. All visual traits are considered in the score including healthiness, standability, appearance, and freedom of disease. Ratings are scored from 1 being poor to 9 being excellent.

Plant. As used herein, the term “plant” includes reference to an immature or mature whole plant, including a plant from which seed, grain, or anthers have been removed. Seed or embryo that will produce the plant is also considered to be the plant.

Plant growth habit. Refers to the physical appearance of a plant. It can be determinate (DET), semi-determinate (SDET), or indeterminate (INDET). In soybeans, indeterminate varieties are those in which stem growth is not limited by formation of a reproductive structure (i.e., flowers, pods and seeds) and hence growth continues throughout flowering and during part of pod filling. The main stem will develop and set pods over a prolonged period under favorable conditions. In soybeans, determinate varieties are those in which stem growth ceases at flowering time. Most flowers develop simultaneously, and most pods fill at approximately the same time. The terms semi-determinate and intermediate are also used to describe plant habit and are defined in Bernard, R. L. (1972) “Two genes affecting stem termination in soybeans.” Crop Science 12:235-239; Woodworth, C. M. (1932) “Genetics and breeding in the improvement of the soybean.” Bull. Agric. Exp. Stn. (Illinois) 384:297-404; and Woodworth, C. M. (1933) “Genetics of the Soybean.” J. Am. Soc. Agron. 25:36-51.

Plant height. Plant height is taken from the top of the soil to the top node of the plant and is measured in centimeters.

Plant parts. As used herein, the term “plant parts” (or a soybean plant, or a part thereof) includes but is not limited to protoplasts, leaves, stems, roots, root tips, anthers, pistils, seed, grain, embryo, pollen, ovules, cotyledon, hypocotyl, pod, flower, shoot, tissue, petiole, cells, meristematic cells, and the like.

Pod. This refers to the fruit of a soybean plant. It consists of the hull or shell (pericarp) and the soybean seeds.

Progeny. As used herein, includes an F₁ soybean plant produced from the cross of two soybean plants where at least one plant includes soybean cultivar P-17 and progeny further includes, but is not limited to, subsequent F₂, F₃, F₄, F₅, F₆, F₇, F₈, F₉, and F₁₀ generational crosses with the recurrent parental line.

Protein Percent. Soybean seeds contain a considerable amount of protein. Protein is generally measured by NIR spectrophotometry and is reported on an as is percentage basis.

Pubescence. This refers to a covering of very fine hairs closely arranged on the leaves, stems, and pods of the soybean plant.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL). Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer to genetic loci that control to some degree numerically representable traits that are usually continuously distributed.

Regeneration. Regeneration refers to the development of a plant from tissue culture.

Relative maturity (RM). The term relative maturity is a numerical value that is assigned to a soybean variety based on comparisons with the maturity values of other varieties. The number preceding the decimal point in the RM refers to the maturity group. The number following the decimal point refers to the relative earliness or lateness within each maturity group. For example, a 3.0 is an early group III variety, while a 3.9 is a late group III variety.

Root knot nematode. A disease of soybean plants caused by plant-parasitic nematodes that are obligate parasites of the roots of thousands of plant species.

Seed protein peroxidase activity. Seed protein peroxidase activity refers to a chemical taxonomic technique to separate cultivars based on the presence or absence of the peroxidase enzyme in the seed coat. There are two types of soybean cultivars; those having high peroxidase activity (dark red color) and those having low peroxidase activity (no color).

Seed yield (Bushels/Acre). The yield in bushels/acre is the actual yield of the grain at harvest.

Seeds per pound. Soybean seeds vary in seed size; therefore, the number of seeds required to make up one pound also varies. The number of seeds per pound affect the pounds of seed required to plant a given area and can also impact end uses.

Shattering. The amount of pod dehiscence prior to harvest. Pod dehiscence involves seeds falling from the pods to the soil. This is a visual score from 1 to 9 comparing all genotypes within a given test. A score of 9 means pods have not opened and no seeds have fallen out. A score of 5 indicates approximately 50% of the pods have opened, with seeds falling to the ground, and a score of 1 indicates 100% of the pods are opened.

Single locus converted (conversion) plant. Plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing or via genetic engineering wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety are recovered in addition to the characteristics conferred by the single locus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique or via genetic engineering. A single locus may comprise one gene, or in the case of transgenic plants, one or more transgenes integrated into the host genome at a single site (locus).

Southern stem canker. Southern stem canker is a disease of soybean plants caused by the fungus Diaporthe phaseolorum var. merdionalis, which causes lesions in plants and can kill whole plants or parts of plants.

Soybean cyst nematode. A small plant-parasitic roundworm (Heterodera glycines) that attacks the roots of soybeans.

Subline. Although cultivar P-17 contains substantially fixed genetics, and is phenotypically uniform and with no off-types expected, there still remains a small proportion of segregating loci either within individuals or within the population as a whole. The segregating loci both within any individual plant and/or the population can be used to extract unique varieties (sublines) with similar phenotype but improved agronomics.

Sudden death syndrome. A fungal disease of soybeans caused by Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines that causes substantial soybean yield reductions. Foliar symptoms are caused by toxins produced by the fungus that are translocated to the foliage.

Transgene. A nucleic acid of interest that can be introduced into the genome of a plant by genetic engineering techniques (e.g., transformation) or breeding.

Soybean cultivar P-17 (Glycine max) is a maturity group V cultivar having an indeterminate growth habit, purple flowers, gray pubescence, tan pod wall, an imperfect black hilum, and is resistant to glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup®. Soybean cultivar P-17 unexpectedly produces more than three leaves per leaflet and has a very bushy plant architecture when given space. Soybean cultivar P-17 is noticeably distinct from other soybean cultivars in that P-17 is multifoliate and contains six or more leaves (see FIG. 1), whereas normal soybean cultivars are unifoliate and contain two leaves (see FIG. 2). Soybean cultivar P-17 does not have a typical unifoliate. The cotyledons of soybean cultivar P-17 remain normal, but the unifoliates are three or more leaves per leaflet instead of one leaf per side. The 2^(nd) nodes and above of P-17 are leaflets of three or more, and usually more than three leaves per leaflet. FIG. 3 shows a comparison of the leaves of multifoliate soybean cultivar P-17 versus the leaves of normal unifoliate soybean.

The variety has shown uniformity and stability, as described in the following variety description information. It has been self-pollinated a sufficient number of generations with careful attention to uniformity of plant type. The line has been increased with continued observation for uniformity.

Soybean cultivar P-17 has the following morphologic and other characteristics (based primarily on data collected in Arkansas.)

TABLE 1 VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION Plant Type: Bushy, forage Growth Habit: Indeterminate Maturity Group and Subgroup: MG 5 Rel ative Maturity: 5.7 Plant Height: 92.0 cm Branching Structure: Dzikowski, 1936 (12) Number of nodes: 25 Hypocotyl color: Purple Leaflet Shape: Lanceolate, multifoliate Leaf Shape: More than 3 leaves per leaflet (Dzikowski G) Leaf Color: Medium green Flower Color: Purple Plant Pubescence Color: Gray Pod Wall Color: Tan Plant Lodging Score: 4 out of 9 Seed Coat Color (Mature Seed): Yellow Seed Coat Luster (Mature Seed): Dull Cotyledon Color (Mature Seed): Yellow Hilum Color (Mature Seed): Imperfect black Seed Size: 16.5 g/100 seed Seed Shape: Spherical Seed Protein Peroxidase Activity: 99% negative (low) Seed Content: Percent Protein: 36 Percent Oil: 17 Physiological Responses: Glyphosate tolerant Yield: 60 bushels at Weiner, AR 72479 in 2018

Further Embodiments of the Invention

Soybean varieties such as soybean cultivar P-17 are typically developed for use in seed and grain production. In addition, soybean varieties such as soybean cultivar P-17 also provide a source of breeding material that may be used to develop new soybean varieties. Plant breeding techniques known in the art and used in a soybean plant breeding program include, but are not limited to, pedigree breeding, recurrent selection, mass selection, single or multiple-seed descent, bulk selection, backcrossing, open pollination breeding, restriction fragment length polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection, making double haploids, and transformation. Often combinations of these techniques are used. The development of soybean varieties in a plant breeding program requires, in general, the development and evaluation of homozygous varieties. There are many analytical methods available to evaluate a new variety. The oldest and most traditional method of analysis is the observation of phenotypic traits, but genotypic analysis may also be used.

Using Soybean Cultivar P-17 to Develop Other Soybean Varieties

This invention is directed to methods for producing a soybean plant by crossing a first parent soybean plant with a second parent soybean plant wherein either the first or second parent soybean plant is variety P-17. Also provided are methods for producing a soybean plant having substantially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of cultivar P-17, by crossing a first parent soybean plant with a second parent soybean plant wherein the first and/or the second parent soybean plant is a plant having substantially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of cultivar P-17 set forth in Table 1, as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions. The other parent may be any soybean plant, such as a soybean plant that is part of a synthetic or natural population. Any such methods using soybean cultivar P-17 include but are not limited to selfing, sibbing, backcrossing, mass selection, pedigree breeding, bulk selection, hybrid production, crossing to populations, and the like. These methods are well known in the art and some of the more commonly used breeding methods are described below. Descriptions of breeding methods can be found in one of several reference books (e.g., Allard, Principles of Plant Breeding, 1960; Simmonds, Principles of Crop Improvement, 1979; Fehr, “Breeding Methods for Cultivar Development”, Chapter 7, Soybean Improvement, Production and Uses, 2.sup.nd ed., Wilcox editor, 1987).

Another method involves producing a population of soybean cultivar P-17 progeny soybean plants, comprising crossing variety P-17 with another soybean plant, thereby producing a population of soybean plants which, on average, derive 50% of their alleles from soybean cultivar P-17. A plant of this population may be selected and repeatedly selfed or sibbed with a soybean cultivar resulting from these successive filial generations. One embodiment of this invention is the soybean cultivar produced by this method and that has obtained at least 50% of its alleles from soybean cultivar P-17.

One of ordinary skill in the art of plant breeding would know how to evaluate the traits of two plant varieties to determine if there is no significant difference between the two traits expressed by those varieties. For example, see, Fehr and Walt, Principles of Cultivar Development, pp. 261-286 (1987). Thus the invention includes soybean cultivar P-17 progeny soybean plants comprising a combination of at least two variety P-17 traits selected from the group consisting of those listed in Table 1 or the variety P-17 combination of traits listed in the Detailed Description of the Invention, so that said progeny soybean plant is not significantly different for said traits than soybean cultivar P-17 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions. Using techniques described herein, molecular markers may be used to identify said progeny plant as a soybean cultivar P-17 progeny plant. Mean trait values may be used to determine whether trait differences are significant, and preferably the traits are measured on plants grown under the same environmental conditions. Once such a variety is developed, its value is substantial since it is important to advance the germplasm base as a whole in order to maintain or improve traits such as yield, disease resistance, pest resistance, and plant performance in extreme environmental conditions.

As used herein, the term “plant” includes plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which soybean plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers, pods, leaves, roots, root tips, anthers, cotyledons, hypocotyls, meristematic cells, stems, pistils, petiole, and the like.

Pedigree Breeding

Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, such as soybean cultivar P-17 or a soybean variety having all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of P-17, and another soybean variety having one or more desirable characteristics that is lacking or which complements soybean cultivar P-17. If the two original parents do not provide all the desired characteristics, other sources can be included in the breeding population. In the pedigree method, superior plants are selfed and selected in successive filial generations. In the succeeding filial generations, the heterozygous condition gives way to the homozygous allele condition as a result of inbreeding. Typically in the pedigree method of breeding, five or more successive filial generations of selfing and selection is practiced: F₁ to F₂; F₂ to F₃; F₃ to F₄; F₄ to F₅; etc. In some examples, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more generations of selfing and selection are practiced. After a sufficient amount of inbreeding, successive filial generations will serve to increase seed of the developed variety. Preferably, the developed variety comprises homozygous alleles at about 95% or more of its loci.

In addition to being used to create backcross conversion populations, backcrossing can also be used in combination with pedigree breeding. Backcrossing can be used to transfer one or more specifically desirable traits from one variety (the donor parent) to a developed variety (the recurrent parent), which has good overall agronomic characteristics yet may lack one or more other desirable traits. However, the same procedure can be used to move the progeny toward the genotype of the recurrent parent but at the same time retain many components of the non-recurrent parent by stopping the backcrossing at an early stage and proceeding with selfing and selection. For example, a soybean variety may be crossed with another variety to produce a first generation progeny plant. The first generation progeny plant may then be backcrossed to one of its parent varieties to create a BC₁F₁. Progeny are selfed and selected so that the newly developed variety has many of the attributes of the recurrent parent and yet several of the desired attributes of the donor parent. This approach leverages the value and strengths of both parents for use in new soybean varieties.

Therefore, in some examples a method of making a backcross conversion of soybean cultivar P-17, comprising the steps of crossing a plant of soybean cultivar P-17 or a soybean variety having all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of P-17 with a donor plant possessing a desired trait to introduce the desired trait, selecting an F₁ progeny plant containing the desired trait, and backcrossing the selected F₁ progeny plant to a plant of soybean cultivar P-17 are provided. This method may further comprise the step of obtaining a molecular marker profile of soybean cultivar P-17 and using the molecular marker profile to select for a progeny plant with the desired trait and the molecular marker profile of P-17. The molecular marker profile can comprise information from one or more markers. In one example the desired trait is a mutant gene or transgene present in the donor parent. In another example, the desired trait is a native trait in the donor parent.

Recurrent and Mass Selection

Recurrent selection is a method used in a plant breeding program to improve a population of plants. Soybean cultivar P-17, and/or a soybean variety having all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of P-17, is suitable for use in a recurrent selection program. The method entails individual plants cross pollinating with each other to form progeny. The progeny are grown and the superior progeny selected by any number of selection methods, which include individual plant, half-sib progeny, full-sib progeny, and selfed progeny. The selected progeny are cross pollinated with each other to form progeny for another population. This population is planted and again superior plants are selected to cross pollinate with each other. Recurrent selection is a cyclical process and therefore can be repeated as many times as desired. The objective of recurrent selection is to improve the traits of a population. The improved population can then be used as a source of breeding material to obtain new varieties for commercial or breeding use, including the production of a synthetic cultivar. A synthetic cultivar is the resultant progeny formed by the intercrossing of several selected varieties.

Mass selection is a useful technique when used in conjunction with molecular marker enhanced selection. In mass selection, seeds from individuals are selected based on phenotype or genotype. These selected seeds are then bulked and used to grow the next generation. Bulk selection requires growing a population of plants in a bulk plot, allowing the plants to self-pollinate, harvesting the seed in bulk, and then using a sample of the seed harvested in bulk to plant the next generation. Also, instead of self-pollination, directed pollination could be used as part of the breeding program.

Single and Multiple-Seed Descent

The single-seed descent procedure in the strict sense refers to planting a segregating population, harvesting a sample of one seed per plant, and using the one-seed sample to plant the next generation. When the population has been advanced from the F₂ to the desired level of inbreeding, the plants from which lines are derived will each trace to different F₂ individuals. The number of plants in a population declines each generation due to failure of some seeds to germinate or some plants to produce at least one seed. As a result, not all of the F₂ plants originally sampled in the population will be represented by a progeny when generation advance is completed.

In a multiple-seed procedure, soybean breeders commonly harvest one or more pods from each plant in a population and thresh them together to form a bulk. Part of the bulk is used to plant the next generation and part is put in reserve. This procedure is also referred to as modified single-seed descent or the pod-bulk technique.

The multiple-seed procedure has been used to save labor at harvest. It is considerably faster to thresh pods with a machine than to remove one seed from each by hand for the single-seed procedure. The multiple-seed procedure also makes it possible to plant the same number of seeds of a population each generation of inbreeding. Enough seeds are harvested to make up for those plants that did not germinate or produce seed.

Mutation Breeding

Mutation breeding is another method of introducing new traits into soybean cultivar P-17 or a soybean variety having all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of P-17. Mutations that occur spontaneously or are artificially induced can be useful sources of variability for a plant breeder. The goal of artificial mutagenesis is to increase the rate of mutation for a desired characteristic. Mutation rates can be increased by many different means including temperature, long-term seed storage, tissue culture conditions, radiation; such as X-rays, Gamma rays (e.g., cobalt 60 or cesium 137), neutrons, (product of nuclear fission by uranium 235 in an atomic reactor), Beta radiation (emitted from radioisotopes such as phosphorus 32 or carbon 14), or ultraviolet radiation (preferably from 2500 to 2900 nm), or chemical mutagens (such as base analogues (5-bromo-uracil)), related compounds (8-ethoxy caffeine), antibiotics (streptonigrin), alkylating agents (sulfur mustards, nitrogen mustards, epoxides, ethylenamines, sulfates, sulfonates, sulfones, lactones), azide, hydroxylamine, nitrous acid, or acridines. Once a desired trait is observed through mutagenesis the trait may then be incorporated into existing germplasm by traditional breeding techniques. Details of mutation breeding can be found in Fehr, “Principles of Cultivar Development,” Macmillan Publishing Company (1993). In addition, mutations created in other soybean plants may be used to produce a backcross conversion of soybean cultivar P-17 that comprises such mutation.

Breeding with Molecular Markers

Selection of soybean plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent on the phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on genetic investigations. For example, one may utilize a suitable genetic marker which is closely associated with a trait of interest. One of these markers may therefore be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait in the offspring of a particular cross, and hence may be used in selection of progeny for continued breeding. This technique may commonly be referred to as marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or other assay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of a trait of interest in a plant may also be useful for breeding purposes. Procedures for marker assisted selection applicable to the breeding of soybeans are well known in the art. Such methods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traits and variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be more expensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of genetic markers which could be used in accordance with the invention include, but are not necessarily limited to, Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 18:6531-6535, 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

Isozyme electrophoresis and RFLPs have been widely used to determine genetic composition. Shoemaker & Olsen (“Molecular Linkage Map of Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.)”, p. 6.131-6.138, in S. J. O'Brien (ed.) Genetic Maps: Locus Maps of Complex Genomes. (1993) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.), developed a molecular genetic linkage map that consisted of 25 linkage groups with about 365 RFLP, 11 RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA), three classical markers, and four isozyme loci. See also, Shoemaker “RFLP Map of Soybean” pp 299-309 (1994), in R. L. Phillips and I. K. Vasil (ed.) describing DNA-based markers in plants. Kluwer Academic Press Dordrecht, the Netherlands.

SSR technology is an efficient and practical marker technology; more marker loci can be routinely used and more alleles per marker locus can be found using SSRs in comparison to RFLPs. For example, Diwan and Cregan, described highly polymorphic microsatellite loci in soybean with as many as 26 alleles (Diwan and Cregan (1997) Theor Appl Genet 95:220-225). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may also be used to identify the unique genetic composition of P-17 and progeny varieties retaining or derived from that unique genetic composition. Various molecular marker techniques may be used in combination to enhance overall resolution.

Soybean DNA molecular marker linkage maps have been rapidly constructed and widely implemented in genetic studies. One such study is described in Cregan et al. (1999) Crop Sci 39:1464-1490. Sequences and PCR conditions of SSR loci in soybean, as well as the most current genetic map, may be found in the Soybase database available online.

One use of molecular markers is quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping. QTL mapping is the use of markers which are known to be closely linked to alleles that have measurable effects on a quantitative trait. Selection in the breeding process is based upon the accumulation of markers linked to the positive effecting alleles and/or the elimination of the markers linked to the negative effecting alleles from the plant genome.

Molecular markers can also be used during the breeding process for the selection of qualitative traits. For example, markers closely linked to alleles or markers containing sequences within the actual alleles of interest can be used to select plants that contain the alleles of interest during a backcrossing breeding program. The markers can also be used to select for the genome of the recurrent parent and against the genome of the donor parent. Using this procedure can minimize the amount of genome from the donor parent that remains in the selected plants. It can also be used to reduce the number of crosses back to the recurrent parent needed in a backcrossing program. The use of molecular markers in the selection process is often called genetic marker enhanced selection. Molecular markers may also be used to identify and exclude certain sources of germplasm as parental varieties or ancestors of a plant by providing a means of tracking genetic profiles through crosses.

Production of Double Haploids

The production of double haploids can also be used for the development of plants with a homozygous phenotype in the breeding program. For example, a soybean plant for which soybean cultivar P-17 is a parent can be used to produce double haploid plants. Double haploids are produced by the doubling of a set of chromosomes (1 N) from a heterozygous plant to produce a completely homozygous individual. For example, see, Wan, et al., “Efficient Production of Doubled Haploid Plants Through Colchicine Treatment of Anther-Derived Maize Callus,” Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 77:889-892 (1989) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,135,615. This can be advantageous because the process omits the generations of selfing needed to obtain a homozygous plant from a heterozygous source.

Haploid induction systems have been developed for various plants to produce haploid tissues, plants and seeds. The haploid induction system can produce haploid plants from any genotype by crossing a selected line (as female) with an inducer line. Such inducer lines for maize include Stock 6 (Coe, Am. Nat., 93:381-382 (1959); Sharkar and Coe, Genetics, 54:453-464 (1966); KEMS (Deimling, Roeber, and Geiger, Vortr. Pflanzenzuchtg, 38:203-224 (1997); or KMS and ZMS (Chalyk, Bylich & Chebotar, MNL, 68:47 (1994); Chalyk & Chebotar, Plant Breeding, 119:363-364 (2000)); and indeterminate gametophyte (ig) mutation (Kermicle, Science, 166:1422-1424 (1969). The disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Methods for obtaining haploid plants are also disclosed in Kobayashi, M., et al., Journ. of Heredity, 71(1):9-14 (1980); Pollacsek, M., Agronomie (Paris) 12(3):247-251 (1992); Cho-Un-Haing, et al., Journ. of Plant Biol., 39(3):185-188 (1996); Verdoodt, L., et al., 96(2):294-300 (February 1998); Genetic Manipulation in Plant Breeding, Proceedings International Symposium Organized by EUCARPIA, Berlin, Germany (Sep. 8-13, 1985); Chalyk, et al., Maize Genet Coop., Newsletter 68:47 (1994).

Thus, an embodiment of this invention is a process for making a substantially homozygous soybean cultivar P-17 progeny plant by producing or obtaining a seed from the cross of soybean cultivar P-17 and another soybean plant and applying double haploid methods to the F₁ seed or F₁ plant or to any successive filial generation. Based on studies in maize and currently being conducted in soybean, such methods would decrease the number of generations required to produce a variety with similar genetics or characteristics to soybean cultivar P-17. See, Bernardo, R. and Kahler, A. L., Theor. Appl. Genet., 102:986-992 (2001).

In particular, a process of making seed retaining the molecular marker profile of soybean cultivar P-17 is contemplated, such process comprising obtaining or producing F₁ seed for which soybean cultivar P-17 is a parent, inducing doubled haploids to create progeny without the occurrence of meiotic segregation, obtaining the molecular marker profile of soybean cultivar P-17, and selecting progeny that retain the molecular marker profile of soybean cultivar P-17.

Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used for different traits and crops can be found in one of several reference books (e.g., Allard, “Principles of plant breeding,” John Wiley & Sons, NY, University of California, Davis, Calif., 50-98, 1960; Simmonds, “Principles of crop improvement,” Longman, Inc., NY, 369-399, 1979; Sneep and Hendriksen, “Plant breeding perspectives,” Wageningen (ed), Center for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation, 1979; Fehr, In: Soybeans: Improvement, Production and Uses,” 2d Ed., Manograph 16:249, 1987; Fehr, “Principles of cultivar development,” Theory and Technique (Vol 1) and Crop Species Soybean (Vol 2), Iowa State Univ., Macmillian Pub. Co., NY, 360-376, 1987; Poehlman and Sleper, “Breeding Field Crops” Iowa State University Press, Ames, 1995; Sprague and Dudley, eds., Corn and Improvement, 5th ed., 2006).

Genotypic Profile of P-17 and Progeny

In addition to phenotypic observations, a plant can also be identified by its genotype. The genotype of a plant can be characterized through a genetic marker profile which can identify plants of the same variety or a related variety, or which can be used to determine or validate a pedigree. Genetic marker profiles can be obtained by techniques such as restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR), DNA amplification fingerprinting (DAF), sequence characterized amplified regions (SCARs), amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), simple sequence repeats (SSRs) also referred to as microsatellites, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or genome-wide evaluations such as genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). For example, see Cregan et al. (1999) “An Integrated Genetic Linkage Map of the Soybean Genome” Crop Science 39:1464-1490, and Berry et al. (2003) “Assessing Probability of Ancestry Using Simple Sequence Repeat Profiles: Applications to Maize Inbred Lines and Soybean Varieties” Genetics 165:331-342, each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. Favorable genotypes and or marker profiles, optionally associated with a trait of interest, may be identified by one or more methodologies.

In some examples one or more markers are used, including but not limited to AFLPs, RFLPs, ASH, SSRs, SNPs, indels, padlock probes, molecular inversion probes, microarrays, sequencing, and the like. In some methods, a target nucleic acid is amplified prior to hybridization with a probe. In other cases, the target nucleic acid is not amplified prior to hybridization, such as methods using molecular inversion probes (see, for example Hardenbol et al. (2003) Nat Biotech 21:673-678). In some examples, the genotype related to a specific trait is monitored, while in other examples, a genome-wide evaluation including but not limited to one or more of marker panels, library screens, association studies, microarrays, gene chips, expression studies, or sequencing such as whole-genome resequencing and genotyping-by-sequencing (GB S) may be used. In some examples, no target-specific probe is needed, for example by using sequencing technologies, including but not limited to next-generation sequencing methods (see, for example, Metzker (2010) Nat Rev Genet 11:31-46; and, Egan et al. (2012) Am J Bot 99:175-185) such as sequencing by synthesis (e.g., Roche 454 pyrosequencing, Illumina Genome Analyzer, and Ion Torrent PGM or Proton systems), sequencing by ligation (e.g., SOLiD from Applied Biosystems, and Polnator system from Azco Biotech), and single molecule sequencing (SMS or third-generation sequencing) which eliminate template amplification (e.g., Helicos system, and PacBio RS system from Pacific BioSciences). Further technologies include optical sequencing systems (e.g., Starlight from Life Technologies), and nanopore sequencing (e.g., GridION from Oxford Nanopore Technologies). Each of these may be coupled with one or more enrichment strategies for organellar or nuclear genomes in order to reduce the complexity of the genome under investigation via PCR, hybridization, restriction enzyme (see, e.g., Elshire et al. (2011) PLoS ONE 6:e19379), and expression methods. In some examples, no reference genome sequence is needed in order to complete the analysis.

Methods are provided of characterizing soybean cultivar P-17, or a variety comprising the phenotypic characteristics, morphological characteristics, physiological characteristics or combination thereof of soybean cultivar P-17. A method comprising isolating nucleic acids, such as DNA, from a plant, a plant part, plant cell or a seed of the soybean variety disclosed herein is provided. The method can include mechanical, electrical and/or chemical disruption of the plant, plant part, plant cell or seed, contacting the disrupted plant, plant part, plant cell or seed with a buffer or solvent, to produce a solution or suspension comprising nucleic acids, optionally contacting the nucleic acids with a precipiting agent to precipitate the nucleic acids, optionally extracting the nucleic acids, and optionally separating the nucleic acids such as by centrifugation or by binding to beads or a column, with subsequent elution, or a combination thereof. If DNA is being isolated, an RNase can be included in one or more of the method steps. The nucleic acids isolated can comprise all or substantially all of the genomic DNA sequence, all or substantially all of the chromosomal DNA sequence or all or substantially all of the coding sequences (cDNA) of the plant, plant part, or plant cell from which they were isolated. The amount and type of nucleic acids isolated may be sufficient to permit whole genome sequencing of the plant from which they were isolated or chromosomal marker analysis of the plant from which they were isolated.

The methods can be used to produce nucleic acids from the plant, plant part, seed or cell, which nucleic acids can be, for example, analyzed to produce data. The data can be recorded. The nucleic acids from the disrupted cell, the disrupted plant, plant part, plant cell or seed or the nucleic acids following isolation or separation can be contacted with primers and nucleotide bases, and/or a polymerase to facilitate PCR sequencing or marker analysis of the nucleic acids. In some examples, the nucleic acids produced can be sequenced or contacted with markers to produce a genetic profile, a molecular profile, a marker profile, a haplotype, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the genetic profile or nucleotide sequence is recorded on a computer readable medium. In other examples, the methods may further comprise using the nucleic acids produced from plants, plant parts, plant cells or seeds in a plant breeding program, for example in making soybean crossing, selection and/or advancement decisions in a breeding program. Crossing includes any type of plant breeding crossing method, including but not limited to outcrossing, selfing, backcrossing, locus conversion, introgression and the like.

In some examples, one or more markers are used to characterize and/or evaluate a soybean variety. Particular markers used for these purposes are not limited to any particular set of markers, but are envisioned to include any type of marker and marker profile which provides a means of distinguishing varieties. For example, one method of comparison is to use only homozygous loci for P-17.

Primers and PCR protocols for assaying these and other markers are disclosed in Soybase (sponsored by the USDA Agricultural Research Service and Iowa State University) which is available online. In addition to being used for identification of soybean cultivar P-17 and plant parts and plant cells of cultivar P-17, the genetic profile may be used to identify a soybean plant produced through the use of P-17 or to verify a pedigree for progeny plants produced through the use of P-17. The genetic marker profile is also useful in breeding and developing backcross conversions.

The present invention comprises a soybean plant characterized by molecular and physiological data obtained from the representative sample of said variety deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Thus, plants, seeds, or parts thereof, having all or substantially all of the physiological, morphological, and/or phenotypic characteristics of soybean cultivar P-17 are provided. Further provided is a soybean plant formed by the combination of the disclosed soybean plant or plant cell with another soybean plant or cell and comprising the homozygous alleles of the variety. A soybean plant comprising all of the physiological, morphological and/or phenotypic characteristics of soybean cultivar P-17 can be combined with another soybean plant in a soybean breeding program. In some examples the other soybean plant comprises all of the physiological, morphological and/or phenotypic characteristics of soybean cultivar P-17.

In some examples, a plant, a plant part, or a seed of soybean cultivar P-17 may be characterized by producing a molecular profile. A molecular profile may include, but is not limited to, one or more genotypic and/or phenotypic profile(s). A genotypic profile may include, but is not limited to, a marker profile, such as a genetic map, a linkage map, a trait maker profile, a SNP profile, an SSR profile, a genome-wide marker profile, a haplotype, and the like. A molecular profile may also be a nucleic acid sequence profile, and/or a physical map. A phenotypic profile may include, but is not limited to, a protein expression profile, a metabolic profile, an mRNA expression profile, and the like.

One means of performing genetic marker profiles is using SSR polymorphisms that are well known in the art. A marker system based on SSRs can be highly informative in linkage analysis relative to other marker systems, in that multiple alleles may be present. Another advantage of this type of marker is that through use of flanking primers, detection of SSRs can be achieved, for example, by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), thereby eliminating the need for labor-intensive Southern hybridization. PCR detection may be performed using two oligonucleotide primers flanking the polymorphic segment of repetitive DNA to amplify the SSR region.

Following amplification, markers can be scored by electrophoresis of the amplification products. Scoring of marker genotype is based on the size of the amplified fragment, which correlates to the number of base pairs of the fragment. While variation in the primer used or in the laboratory procedures can affect the reported fragment size, relative values should remain constant regardless of specific primer or laboratory used. When comparing varieties, it may be beneficial to have all profiles performed in the same lab. Primers that can be used are publically available and may be found in, for example, Soybase or Cregan (Crop Science 39:1464-1490, 1999). See also, PCT Publication No. WO 99/31964 (Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Soybean); U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,967 (Positional Cloning of Soybean Cyst Nematode Resistance Genes); and U.S. Pat. No. 7,288,386 (Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome Resistant Soybeans and Methods of Breeding and Identifying Resistant Plants), the disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The SSR profile of soybean cultivar P-17 can be used to identify plants comprising soybean cultivar P-17 as a parent, since such plants will comprise the same homozygous alleles as soybean cultivar P-17. Because the soybean variety is essentially homozygous at all relevant loci, most loci should have only one type of allele present. In contrast, a genetic marker profile of an F₁ progeny should be the sum of those parents, e.g., if one parent was homozygous for allele x at a particular locus, and the other parent homozygous for allele y at that locus, then the F₁ progeny will be xy (heterozygous) at that locus. Subsequent generations of progeny produced by selection and breeding are expected to be of genotype x (homozygous), y (homozygous), or xy (heterozygous) for that locus position. When the F₁ plant is selfed or sibbed for successive filial generations, the locus should be either x or y for that position.

In addition, plants and plant parts substantially benefiting from the use of soybean cultivar P-17 in their development, such as soybean cultivar P-17 comprising a locus conversion, backcross conversion, transgene, or genetic sterility factor, may be identified by having a molecular marker profile with a high percent identity to soybean cultivar P-17. Such a percent identity might be 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, or 99.9% identical to soybean cultivar P-17.

The SSR profile of soybean cultivar P-17 can also be used to identify essentially derived varieties and other progeny varieties developed from the use of soybean cultivar P-17, as well as cells and other plant parts thereof. Such plants may be developed using the markers identified in WO 00/31964, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,162,967, and 7,288,386. Progeny plants and plant parts produced using soybean cultivar P-17 may be identified by having a molecular marker profile of at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 99.5% genetic contribution from soybean variety, as measured by either percent identity or percent similarity. Such progeny may be further characterized as being within a pedigree distance of soybean cultivar P-17, such as within 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 or less cross-pollinations to a soybean plant other than soybean cultivar P-17 or a plant that has soybean cultivar P-17 as a progenitor. Unique molecular profiles may be identified with other molecular tools such as SNPs and RFLPs.

While determining the genotypic profile of the plants described supra, several unique SSR profiles may also be identified which did not appear in either parent of such plant. Such unique SSR profiles may arise during the breeding process from recombination or mutation. A combination of several unique alleles provides a means of identifying a plant variety, an F₁ progeny produced from such variety, and progeny produced from such variety.

Introduction of a New Trait or Locus into Soybean Cultivar P-17

Cultivar P-17 represents a new base genetic variety into which a new locus or trait may be introgressed. Backcrossing and direct transformation represent two important methods that can be used to accomplish such an introgression.

Single Locus Conversion

When the term “soybean plant” is used in the context of the present invention, this also includes any single locus conversions of that variety. The term “single locus converted plant” or “single gene converted plant” refers to those soybean plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing or via genetic engineering wherein essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety are recovered in addition to the single gene transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique or via genetic engineering.

In further embodiments, a single locus conversion comprises a genetic modification to the genome of soybean cultivar P-17. A genetic modification may comprise, for example, an insertion, deletion, or substitution of a nucleotide sequence. In certain embodiments, a single locus may comprise one or more genes or intergenic regions integrated into or mutated at a single locus or may comprise one or more nucleic acid molecules integrated at the single locus. In particular embodiments, a single locus conversion may be generated by genome editing such as through use of engineered nucleases, as is known in the art. Examples of engineered nucleases include, but are not limited to, Cas endonucleases, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and engineered meganucleases, also known as homing endonucleases. Naturally occurring nucleases can also find use for genome editing. In specific embodiments, endonucleases, both naturally occurring and engineered, may utilize any polypeptide-, DNA-, or RNA-guided genome editing systems known to the skilled artisan.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improve or introduce a characteristic into the variety. A backcross conversion of soybean cultivar P-17 occurs when DNA sequences are introduced through backcrossing (Hallauer, et al., “Corn Breeding,” Corn and Corn Improvements, No. 18, pp. 463-481 (1988)), with soybean cultivar P-17 utilized as the recurrent parent. Both naturally occurring and transgenic DNA sequences may be introduced through backcrossing techniques. A backcross conversion may produce a plant with a trait or locus conversion in at least two or more backcrosses, including at least 2 crosses, at least 3 crosses, at least 4 crosses, at least 5 crosses, and the like. Molecular marker assisted breeding or selection may be utilized to reduce the number of backcrosses necessary to achieve the backcross conversion. For example, see, Openshaw, S. J., et al., Marker-assisted Selection in Backcross Breeding, Proceedings Symposium of the Analysis of Molecular Data, Crop Science Society of America, Corvallis, Oreg. (August 1994), where it is demonstrated that a backcross conversion can be made in as few as two backcrosses.

The complexity of the backcross conversion method depends on the type of trait being transferred (single genes or closely linked genes as compared to unlinked genes), the level of expression of the trait, the type of inheritance (cytoplasmic or nuclear), and the types of parents included in the cross. It is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that for single gene traits that are relatively easy to classify, the backcross method is effective and relatively easy to manage. (See, Hallauer, et al., Corn and Corn Improvement, Sprague and Dudley, Third Ed. (1998)). Desired traits that may be transferred through backcross conversion include, but are not limited to, sterility (nuclear and cytoplasmic), fertility restoration, nutritional enhancements, drought tolerance, nitrogen utilization, altered fatty acid profile, low phytate, industrial enhancements, disease resistance (bacterial, fungal, or viral), insect resistance, and herbicide resistance. In addition, an introgression site itself, such as an FRT site, Lox site, or other site specific integration site, may be inserted by backcrossing and utilized for direct insertion of one or more genes of interest into a specific plant variety.

A single locus may contain several transgenes, such as a transgene for disease resistance that, in the same expression vector, also contains a transgene for herbicide resistance. The gene for herbicide resistance may be used as a selectable marker and/or as a phenotypic trait. A single locus conversion of site specific integration system allows for the integration of multiple genes at a known recombination site in the genome. At least one, at least two or at least three and less than ten, less than nine, less than eight, less than seven, less than six, less than five or less than four locus conversions may be introduced into the plant by backcrossing, introgression or transformation to express the desired trait, while the plant, or a plant grown from the seed, plant part or plant cell, otherwise retains the phenotypic characteristics of the deposited seed when grown under the same environmental conditions.

The backcross conversion may result from either the transfer of a dominant allele or a recessive allele. Selection of progeny containing the trait of interest is accomplished by direct selection for a trait associated with a dominant allele. Transgenes transferred via backcrossing typically function as a dominant single gene trait and are relatively easy to classify. Selection of progeny for a trait that is transferred via a recessive allele requires growing and selfing the first backcross generation to determine which plants carry the recessive alleles. Recessive traits may require additional progeny testing in successive backcross generations to determine the presence of the locus of interest. The last backcross generation is usually selfed to give pure breeding progeny for the gene(s) being transferred, although a backcross conversion with a stably introgressed trait may also be maintained by further backcrossing to the recurrent parent with selection for the converted trait.

Along with selection for the trait of interest, progeny are selected for the phenotype of the recurrent parent. The backcross is a form of inbreeding, and the features of the recurrent parent are automatically recovered after successive backcrosses. Poehlman, Breeding Field Crops, p. 204 (1987). Poehlman suggests from one to four or more backcrosses, but as noted above, the number of backcrosses necessary can be reduced with the use of molecular markers. Other factors, such as a genetically similar donor parent, may also reduce the number of backcrosses necessary. As noted by Poehlman, backcrossing is easiest for simply inherited, dominant, and easily recognized traits.

One process for adding or modifying a trait or locus in soybean cultivar P-17 comprises crossing soybean cultivar P-17 plants grown from soybean cultivar P-17 seed with plants of another soybean variety that comprise the desired trait or locus, selecting F₁ progeny plants that comprise the desired trait or locus to produce selected F₁ progeny plants, crossing the selected progeny plants with the soybean cultivar P-17 plants to produce backcross progeny plants, selecting for backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait or locus and the morphological characteristics of soybean cultivar P-17 to produce selected backcross progeny plants, and backcrossing to soybean cultivar P-17 three or more times in succession to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny plants that comprise said trait or locus. The modified soybean cultivar P-17 may be further characterized as having the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean cultivar P-17 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions and/or may be characterized by percent similarity or identity to soybean cultivar P-17 as determined by SSR markers. The above method may be utilized with fewer backcrosses in appropriate situations, such as when the donor parent is highly related or markers are used in the selection step. Desired traits that may be used include those nucleic acids known in the art, some of which are listed herein, that will affect traits through nucleic acid expression or inhibition. Desired loci include the introgression of FRT, Lox, and other sites for site specific integration, which may also affect a desired trait if a functional nucleic acid is inserted at the integration site.

In addition, the above process and other similar processes described herein may be used to produce first generation progeny soybean seed by adding a step at the end of the process that comprises crossing soybean cultivar P-17 with the introgressed trait or locus with a different soybean plant and harvesting the resultant first generation progeny soybean seed.

Methods for Genetic Engineering of Soybean

With the advent of molecular biological techniques that have allowed the isolation and characterization of genes that encode specific protein products, scientists in the field of plant biology developed a strong interest in engineering the genome of plants (genetic engineering) to contain and express foreign genes, or additional, or modified versions of native, or endogenous, genes (perhaps driven by different promoters) in order to alter the traits of a plant in a specific manner. Plants altered by genetic engineering are often referred to as ‘genetically modified’. Such foreign additional and/or modified genes are referred to herein collectively as “transgenes.” Over the last fifteen to twenty years several methods for producing transgenic plants have been developed, and the present invention, in particular embodiments, also relates to transformed versions of the claimed cultivar.

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, including biological and physical plant transformation protocols. See, for example, Miki et al., “Procedures for Introducing Foreign DNA into Plants,” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick and Thompson Eds., CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, pp. 67-88 (1993), and Armstrong, “The First Decade of Maize Transformation: A Review and Future Perspective,” Maydica, 44:101-109 (1999). In addition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for plant cell or tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available. See, for example, Gruber, et al., “Vectors for Plant Transformation,” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick and Thompson Eds., CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, pp. 89-119 (1993).

One method for introducing an expression vector into plants is based on the natural transformation system of Agrobacterium. See, for example, Horsch, et al., Science, 227:1229 (1985). A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes are plant pathogenic soil bacteria which genetically transform plant cells. The Ti and Ri plasmids of A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes, respectively, carry genes responsible for genetic transformation of the plant. See, for example, Kado, C. I., Crit. Rev. Plant Sci., 10:1 (1991). Descriptions of Agrobacterium vector systems and methods for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer are provided by Gruber, et al., supra, Miki, et al., supra, and Moloney, et al., Plant Cell Rep., 8:238 (1989). See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055 (Townsend and Thomas), issued Oct. 8, 1996.

Numerous methods of plant transformation, collectively referred to as direct gene transfer, have been developed as an alternative to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. These methods include, but are not limited to, microprojectile-mediated transformation or microprojectile bombardment (for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,783), sonication of target cells, use of liposome and spheroplast fusion to introduce expression vectors, CaCl₂) precipitation, polyvinyl alcohol or poly-L-ornithine, electroporation of protoplasts and whole cells and tissues (Bates, Mol. Biotechnol., 2(2):135-145, 1994; Lazzeri, Methods Mol. Biol., 49:95-106, 1995), direct DNA uptake by protoplasts, and acceleration by the Biolistics Particle Delivery System.

Plant transformation methods may involve the construction of an expression vector. Such a vector or recombinant construct comprises a DNA sequence that contains a coding sequence, such as a protein and/or RNA coding sequence under the control of or operatively linked to a regulatory element, for example a promoter. Expression vectors can include at least one genetic marker operably linked to a regulatory element (such as a promoter) that allows transformed cells containing the marker to be either recovered by negative selection (i.e., inhibiting growth of cells that do not contain the selectable marker gene), or by positive selection (i.e., screening for the product encoded by the genetic marker). Many commonly used selectable marker genes for plant transformation are well known in the transformation arts, and include, for example, genes that code for enzymes that metabolically detoxify a selective chemical agent which may be an antibiotic or an herbicide, or genes that encode an altered target which is insensitive to the inhibitor. A few positive selection methods are also known in the art. The vector or construct may contain one or more coding sequences and one or more regulatory elements.

Several types of promoters are now well known in the transformation arts, as are other regulatory elements that can be used alone or in combination with promoters. “Promoter” includes reference to a region of DNA upstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition and binding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription. A “plant promoter” is a promoter capable of initiating transcription in plant cells. Examples of promoters under developmental control include promoters that preferentially initiate transcription in certain tissues, such as leaves, roots, seeds, fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, or sclerenchyma. Such promoters are referred to as “tissue-preferred.” Promoters which initiate transcription only in certain tissue are referred to as “tissue-specific.” A “cell type” specific promoter primarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs, for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An “inducible” promoter is a promoter which is under environmental control. Examples of environmental conditions that may affect transcription by inducible promoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light. Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred, cell type specific, and inducible promoters constitute the class of “non-constitutive” promoters. A “constitutive” promoter is a promoter which is active under most environmental conditions.

Transport of protein produced by transgenes to a subcellular compartment, such as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome, cell wall, or mitochondrion, or for secretion into the apoplast, is accomplished by means of operably linking the nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence to the 5′ and/or 3′ region of a gene encoding the protein of interest. Targeting sequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ end of the structural gene may determine, during protein synthesis and processing, where the encoded protein is ultimately compartmentalized.

In general, methods to transform, modify, edit or alter plant endogenous genomic DNA include altering the plant native DNA sequence or a pre-existing transgenic sequence including regulatory elements, coding and non-coding sequences. These methods can be used, for example, to target nucleic acids to pre-engineered target recognition sequences in the genome. Such pre-engineered target sequences may be introduced by genome editing or modification. As an example, a genetically modified plant variety is generated using “custom” or engineered endonucleases such as meganucleases produced to modify plant genomes (see e.g., WO 2009/114321; Gao et al. (2010) Plant Journal 1:176-187). Another site-directed engineering method is through the use of zinc finger domain recognition coupled with the restriction properties of restriction enzyme. See e.g., Urnov, et al., (2010) Nat Rev Genet. 11(9):636-46; Shukla, et al., (2009) Nature 459 (7245):437-41. A transcription activator-like (TAL) effector-DNA modifying enzyme (TALE or TALEN) is also used to engineer changes in plant genome. See e.g., US20110145940, Cermak et al., (2011) Nucleic Acids Res. 39(12) and Boch et al., (2009), Science 326(5959): 1509-12. Site-specific modification of plant genomes can also be performed using the bacterial type II CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas (CRISPR-associated) system, as well as similar CRISPR related technologies including but not limited to use of enzymes Cas, Cpf1, and Cms1. See e.g., Belhaj et al., (2013), Plant Methods 9: 39; The Cas9/guide RNA-based system allows targeted cleavage of genomic DNA guided by a customizable small noncoding RNA in plants (see e.g., WO 2015026883A1, incorporated herein by reference).

A genetic trait which has been engineered into the genome of a particular soybean plant may then be moved into the genome of another variety using traditional breeding techniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach is commonly used to move a transgene from a transformed soybean variety into an already developed soybean variety, and the resulting backcross conversion plant would then comprise the transgene(s).

Various genetic elements can be introduced into the plant genome using transformation. These elements include, but are not limited to, genes, coding sequences, inducible, constitutive and tissue specific promoters, enhancing sequences, and signal and targeting sequences. For example, see the traits, genes, and transformation methods listed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,118,055.

A genetic map can be generated that identifies the approximate chromosomal location of the integrated DNA molecule, for example via conventional restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, simple sequence repeats (SSR), and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). For exemplary methodologies in this regard, see Glick and Thompson, Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, pp. 269-284 (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993).

Wang et al. discuss “Large Scale Identification, Mapping and Genotyping of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Human Genome”, Science (1998) 280:1077-1082, and similar capabilities are increasingly available for the soybean genome. Map information concerning chromosomal location is useful for proprietary protection of a subject transgenic plant. If unauthorized propagation is undertaken and crosses made with other germplasm, the map of the integration region can be compared to similar maps for suspect plants to determine if the latter have a common parentage with the subject plant. Map comparisons could involve hybridizations, RFLP, PCR, SSR, sequencing or combinations thereof, all of which are conventional techniques. SNPs may also be used alone or in combination with other techniques.

Soybean Cultivar P-17 Further Comprising a Transgene

Transgenes and transformation methods provide means to engineer the genome of plants to contain and express heterologous genetic elements, including but not limited to foreign genetic elements, additional copies of endogenous elements, and/or modified versions of native or endogenous genetic elements, in order to alter at least one trait of a plant in a specific manner. Any heterologous DNA sequence(s), whether from a different species or from the same species, which are inserted into the genome using transformation, backcrossing, or other methods known to one of skill in the art are referred to herein collectively as transgenes. The sequences are heterologous based on sequence source, location of integration, operably linked elements, or any combination thereof. One or more transgenes of interest can be introduced into soybean cultivar P-17. Transgenic variants of soybean cultivar P-17 plants, seeds, cells, and parts thereof or derived therefrom are provided. Transgenic variants of P-17 comprise the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean cultivar P-17, such as listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions, and/or may be characterized or identified by percent similarity or identity to P-17 as determined by SSR or other molecular markers. In some examples, transgenic variants of soybean cultivar P-17 are produced by introducing at least one transgene of interest into soybean cultivar P-17 by transforming P-17 with a polynucleotide comprising the transgene of interest. In other examples, transgenic variants of soybean cultivar P-17 are produced by introducing at least one transgene by introgressing the transgene into soybean cultivar P-17 by crossing.

In one example, a process for modifying soybean cultivar P-17 with the addition of a desired trait, said process comprising transforming a soybean plant of cultivar P-17 with a transgene that confers a desired trait is provided. Therefore, transgenic P-17 soybean cells, plants, plant parts, and seeds produced from this process are provided. In some examples one or more desired traits may include traits such as herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, decreased phytate, modified fatty acid profile, modified fatty acid content, carbohydrate metabolism, protein content, or oil content. The specific gene may be any known in the art or listed herein, including but not limited to a polynucleotide conferring resistance to an ALS-inhibitor herbicide, imidazolinone, sulfonylurea, protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitors, hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors, glyphosate, glufosinate, triazine, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), dicamba, broxynil, metribuzin, or benzonitrile herbicides; a polynucleotide encoding a Bacillus thuringiensis polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding a phytase, a fatty acid desaturase (e.g., FAD-2, FAD-3), galactinol synthase, a raffinose synthetic enzyme; or a polynucleotide conferring resistance to soybean cyst nematode, brown stem rot, Phytophthora root rot, soybean mosaic virus, sudden death syndrome, or other plant pathogen.

Foreign Protein Genes and Agronomic Genes

By means of the present invention, plants can be genetically engineered to express various phenotypes of agronomic interest. Through the transformation of soybean, the expression of genes can be altered to enhance disease resistance, insect resistance, herbicide resistance, agronomic, grain quality, and other traits. Transformation can also be used to insert DNA sequences which control or help control male-sterility. DNA sequences native to soybean, as well as non-native DNA sequences, can be transformed into soybean and used to alter levels of native or non-native proteins. Various promoters, targeting sequences, enhancing sequences, and other DNA sequences can be inserted into the genome for the purpose of altering the expression of proteins. Reduction of the activity of specific genes (also known as gene silencing or gene suppression) is desirable for several aspects of genetic engineering in plants.

Many techniques for gene silencing are well known to one of skill in the art, including, but not limited to, knock-outs (such as by insertion of a transposable element such as mu (Vicki Chandler, The Maize Handbook, Ch. 118 (Springer-Verlag 1994)) or other genetic elements such as a FRT and Lox that are used for site specific integrations, antisense technology (see, e.g., Sheehy, et al., PNAS USA, 85:8805-8809 (1988); and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,107,065, 5,453,566, and 5,759,829); co-suppression (e.g., Taylor, Plant Cell, 9:1245 (1997); Jorgensen, Trends Biotech., 8(12):340-344 (1990); Flavell, PNAS USA, 91:3490-3496 (1994); Finnegan, et al., Bio/Technology, 12:883-888 (1994); Neuhuber, et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 244:230-241 (1994)); RNA interference (Napoli, et al., Plant Cell, 2:279-289 (1990); U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,323; Sharp, Genes Dev., 13:139-141 (1999); Zamore, et al., Cell, 101:25-33 (2000); Montgomery, et al., PNAS USA, 95:15502-15507 (1998)), virus-induced gene silencing (Burton, et al., Plant Cell, 12:691-705 (2000); Baulcombe, Curr. Op. Plant Bio., 2:109-113 (1999)); target-RNA-specific ribozymes (Haseloff, et al., Nature, 334: 585-591 (1988)); hairpin structures (Smith, et al., Nature, 407:319-320 (2000); WO 99/53050; WO 98/53083); MicroRNA (Aukerman & Sakai, Plant Cell, 15:2730-2741 (2003)); ribozymes (Steinecke, et al., EMBO J., 11:1525 (1992); Perriman, et al., Antisense Res. Dev., 3:253 (1993)); oligonucleotide mediated targeted modification (e.g., WO 03/076574 and WO 99/25853); Zn-finger targeted molecules (e.g., WO 01/52620, WO 03/048345, and WO 00/42219); and other methods or combinations of the above methods known to those of skill in the art.

Likewise, by means of the present invention, agronomic genes can be expressed in transformed plants. More particularly, plants can be genetically engineered to express various phenotypes of agronomic interest. Exemplary nucleotide sequences and/or native loci that confer at least one trait of interest, which optionally may be conferred or altered by genetic engineering, transformation or introgression of a transformed event include, but are not limited to, those categorized below:

1. Genes that Confer Resistance to Pests or Disease and that Encode:

A. Plant disease resistance genes. Plant defenses are often activated by specific interaction between the product of a disease resistance gene (R) in the plant and the product of a corresponding avirulence (Avr) gene in the pathogen. A plant variety can be transformed with one or more cloned resistance genes to engineer plants that are resistant to specific pathogen strains. A plant resistant to a disease is one that is more resistant to a pathogen as compared to the wild type plant. See, for example U.S. Pat. No. 9,169,489, disclosing soybean plants expressing a soybean homolog of glycine-rich protein 7 (GRP7) and providing increased innate immunity.

Examples of fungal diseases on leaves, stems, pods and seeds include, for example, Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria spec. atrans tenuissima), Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporoides dematium var. truncatum), brown spot (Septoria glycines), cercospora leaf spot and blight (Cercospora kikuchii), choanephora leaf blight (Choanephora infiindibulifera trispora (Syn.)), dactuliophora leaf spot (Dactuliophora glycines), downy mildew (Peronospora manshurica), drechslera blight (Drechslera glycini), frogeye leaf spot (Cercospora sojina), leptosphaerulina leaf spot (Leptosphaerulina trifolii), phyllostica leaf spot (Phyllosticta sojaecola), pod and stem blight (Phomopsis sojae), powdery mildew (Microsphaera diffusa), pyrenochaeta leaf spot (Pyrenochaeta glycines), rhizoctonia aerial, foliage, and web blight (Rhizoctonia solani), rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phakopsora meibomiae), scab (Sphaceloma glycines), stemphylium leaf blight (Stemphylium botryosum), target spot (Corynespora cassiicola).

Examples of fungal diseases on roots and the stem base include, for example, black root rot (Calonectria crotalariae), charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina), fusarium blight or wilt, root rot, and pod and collar rot (Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium orthoceras, Fusarium semitectum, Fusarium equiseti), Mycoleptodiscus root rot (Mycoleptodiscus terrestris), Neocosmospora (Neocosmospora vasinfecta), pod and stem blight (Diaporthe phaseolorum), stem canker (Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora), phytophthora rot (Phytophthora megasperma), brown stem rot (Phialophora gregata), pythium rot (Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium irregulare, Pythium debaryanum, Pythium myriotylum, Pythium ultimum), rhizoctonia root rot, stem decay, and damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani), sclerotinia stem decay (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), sclerotinia southern blight (Sclerotinia rolfsii), thielaviopsis root rot (Thielaviopsis basicola).

B. A gene conferring resistance to a pest, such as soybean cyst nematode. See, e.g., PCT Application WO 96/30517 and PCT Application WO 93/19181.

C. A Bacillus thuringiensis protein, a derivative thereof or a synthetic polypeptide modeled thereon. Non-limiting examples of Bt transgenes being genetically engineered are given in the following patents and patent applications, and hereby are incorporated by reference for this purpose: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,188,960; 5,689,052; 5,880,275; 5,986,177; 7,105,332; 7,208,474; WO91/14778; WO99/31248; WO01/12731; WO99/24581; WO97/40162; US2002/0151709; US2003/0177528; US2005/0138685; US/20070245427; US2007/0245428; US2006/0241042; US2008/0020966; US2008/0020968; US2008/0020967; US2008/0172762; US2008/0172762; and US2009/0005306.

D. A lectin. See, for example, Van Damme, et al., Plant Molec. Biol., 24:25 (1994), who disclose the nucleotide sequences of several Clivia miniata mannose-binding lectin genes.

E. A vitamin-binding protein such as avidin. See, PCT Application US 93/06487, which teaches the use of avidin and avidin homologues as larvicides against insect pests.

F. An enzyme inhibitor, for example, a protease or proteinase inhibitor or an amylase inhibitor. See, for example, Abe, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 262:16793 (1987) (nucleotide sequence of rice cysteine proteinase inhibitor); Huub, et al., Plant Molec. Biol., 21:985 (1993) (nucleotide sequence of cDNA encoding tobacco proteinase inhibitor I); Sumitani, et al., Biosci. Biotech. Biochem., 57:1243 (1993) (nucleotide sequence of Streptomyces nitrosporeus α-amylase inhibitor); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,813 (Hepher and Atkinson, issued Feb. 27, 1996).

G. An insect-specific hormone or pheromone, such as an ecdysteroid or juvenile hormone, a variant thereof, a mimetic based thereon, or an antagonist or agonist thereof. See, for example, the disclosure by Hammock, et al., Nature, 344:458 (1990), of baculovirus expression of cloned juvenile hormone esterase, an inactivator of juvenile hormone.

H. An insect-specific peptide or neuropeptide which, upon expression, disrupts the physiology of the affected pest. For example, see the disclosures of Regan, J. Biol. Chem., 269:9 (1994) (expression cloning yields DNA coding for insect diuretic hormone receptor); Pratt, et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 163:1243 (1989) (an allostatin is identified in Diploptera puntata); Chattopadhyay, et al., Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 30(1):33-54 (2004); Zjawiony, J Nat Prod, 67(2):300-310 (2004); Carlini & Grossi-de-Sa, Toxicon, 40(11):1515-1539 (2002); Ussuf, et al., Curr Sci., 80(7):847-853 (2001); Vasconcelos & Oliveira, Toxicon, 44(4):385-403 (2004). See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,317 to Tomalski, et al., which discloses genes encoding insect-specific, paralytic neurotoxins.

I. An insect-specific venom produced in nature by a snake, a wasp, etc. For example, see, Pang, et al., Gene, 116:165 (1992), for disclosure of heterologous expression in plants of a gene coding for a scorpion insectotoxic peptide.

J. An enzyme responsible for a hyperaccumulation of a monoterpene, a sesquiterpene, a steroid, hydroxamic acid, a phenylpropanoid derivative, or another non-protein molecule with insecticidal activity.

K. An enzyme involved in the modification, including the post-translational modification, of a biologically active molecule; for example, a glycolytic enzyme, a proteolytic enzyme, a lipolytic enzyme, a nuclease, a cyclase, a transaminase, an esterase, a hydrolase, a phosphatase, a kinase, a phosphorylase, a polymerase, an elastase, a chitinase, and a glucanase, whether natural or synthetic. See, for example, International Publication WO93/02197, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,563,020; 7,145,060; and 7,087,810 which are herein are incorporated by reference for this purpose.

L. A molecule that stimulates signal transduction. For example, see the disclosure by Botella, et al., Plant Molec. Biol., 24:757 (1994), of nucleotide sequences for mung bean calmodulin cDNA clones, and Griess, et al., Plant Physiol., 104:1467 (1994), who provide the nucleotide sequence of a maize calmodulin cDNA clone.

M. A hydrophobic moment peptide, such as peptides based on cecropins (cecropin A or B), magainins, melittin, tachyplesin (see International Publication WO95/16776 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,852 disclosing peptide derivatives of tachyplesin which inhibit fungal plant pathogens), and synthetic antimicrobial peptides that confer disease resistance (see, e.g. International Publication WO95/18855 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,914).

N. A membrane permease, a channel former or a channel blocker. For example, see the disclosure of Jaynes, et al., Plant Sci, 89:43 (1993), of heterologous expression of a cecropin-β lytic peptide analog to render transgenic tobacco plants resistant to Pseudomonas solanacearum.

O. A viral-invasive protein or a complex toxin derived therefrom. For example, the accumulation of viral coat proteins in transformed plant cells imparts resistance to viral infection and/or disease development effected by the virus from which the coat protein gene is derived, as well as by related viruses. See, Beachy, et al., Ann. Rev. Phytopathol., 28:451 (1990). Coat protein-mediated resistance has been conferred upon transformed plants against alfalfa mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, and tobacco mosaic virus.

P. An insect-specific antibody or an immunotoxin derived therefrom. Thus, an antibody targeted to a critical metabolic function in the insect gut would inactivate an affected enzyme, killing the insect. See, Taylor, et al., Abstract #497, Seventh Int'l Symposium on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (Edinburgh, Scotland 1994) (enzymatic inactivation in transgenic tobacco via production of single-chain antibody fragments).

Q. A virus-specific or pathogen protein specific antibody. See, for example, Safarnejad, et al. (2011) Biotechnology Advances 29(6): 961-971, reviewing antibody-mediated resistance against plant pathogens.

R. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a pathogen or a parasite. Thus, fungal endo-α-1,4-D-polygalacturonases facilitate fungal colonization and plant nutrient release by solubilizing plant cell wall homo-α-1,4-D-galacturonase. See, Lamb, et al., Bio/Technology, 10:1436 (1992). The cloning and characterization of a gene which encodes a bean endopolygalacturonase-inhibiting protein is described by Toubart, et al., Plant J., 2:367 (1992).

S. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a plant. For example, Li et al., (2004) Biologica Plantarum 48(3): 367-374 describe the production of transgenic soybean plants expressing both the chitinase (chi) and the barley ribosome-inactivating gene (rip).

T. Genes involved in the Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) Response and/or the pathogenesis-related genes. See Fu et al. (2013) Annu Rev Plant Biol. 64:839-863, Luna et al. (2012) Plant Physiol. 158:844-853, Pieterse & Van Loon (2004) Curr Opin Plant Bio 7:456-64; and Somssich (2003) Cell 113:815-816.

U. Antifungal genes. See, Ceasar et al. (2012) Biotechnol Lett 34:995-1002; Bushnell et al. (1998) Can J Plant Path 20:137-149. Also, see US Patent Application Publications US2002/0166141; US2007/0274972; US2007/0192899; US2008/0022426; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,891,085; 7,306,946; and 7,598,346.

V. Detoxification genes, such as for fumonisin, beauvericin, moniliformin, and zearalenone and their structurally-related derivatives. For example, see Schweiger et al. (2013) Mol Plant Microbe Interact. 26:781-792 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,716,820; 5,792,931; 5,798,255; 5,846,812; 6,083,736; 6,538,177; 6,388,171; and 6,812,380.

W. Cystatin and cysteine proteinase inhibitors. See, for example, Popovic et al. (2013) Phytochemistry 94:53-59. van der Linde et al. (2012) Plant Cell 24:1285-1300 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,205,453.

X. Defensin genes. See, for example, De Coninck et al. (2013) Fungal Biology Reviews 26: 109-120, International Patent Publication WO03/000863 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,911,577; 6,855,865; 6,777,592; and 7,238,781.

Y. Genes conferring resistance to nematodes, and in particular soybean cyst nematodes. See, e.g., Davies et al. (2015) Nematology 17: 249-263, Cook et al. (2012) Science 338.6111: 1206-1209, Liu et al. (2012): Nature 492.7428:256-260 and International Patent Publications WO96/30517; WO93/19181; WO03/033651; and Urwin et al. (1998) Planta 204:472-479; Williamson (1999) Curr Opin Plant Bio 2:327-331; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,284,948 and 7,301,069; 8,198,509; 8,304,609; and publications US2009/0064354 and US2013/0047301.

Z. Genes that confer resistance to Phytophthora Root Rot, such as the Rps1, Rps1a, Rps1b, Rps1c, Rps1d, Rps1e, Rps1k, Rps2, Rps3a, Rps3b, Rps3c, Rps4, Rps5, Rps6, Rps7, and other Rps genes. See, for example, Zhang et al. (2014) Crop Science 54.2: 492-499, Lin et al. (2013), Theoretical and applied genetics 126.8: 2177-2185.

AA. Genes that confer resistance to Brown Stem Rot, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,095,103, 5,689,035 and 5,948,953, which are each herein incorporated by reference for this purpose.

Any of the above-listed disease or pest resistance genes (A-AA) can be introduced into the claimed soybean cultivar through a variety of means including, but not limited to, transformation and crossing.

2. Genes that Confer Resistance to an Herbicide, for Example:

A. An herbicide that inhibits the growing point or meristem, such as an imidazolinone or a sulfonylurea. Exemplary genes in this category code for mutant ALS and AHAS enzyme as described, for example, by Lee, et al., EMBO J., 7:1241 (1988) and Miki, et al., Theor. Appl. Genet., 80:449 (1990), respectively. See also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,084,082; 5,605,011; 5,013,659; 5,141,870; 5,767,361; 5,731,180; 5,304,732; 4,761,373; 5,331,107; 5,928,937; and 5,378,824; US2007/0214515; US2013/0254944; and WO96/33270.

B. Glyphosate (resistance conferred by mutant 5-enolpyruvlshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) and aroA genes, respectively) and other phosphono compounds, such as glufosinate (phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT) and Streptomyces hygroscopicus PAT bar genes), pyridinoxy or phenoxy proprionic acids, and cyclohexanediones (ACCase inhibitor-encoding genes). See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,835 to Shah, et al., which discloses the nucleotide sequence of a form of EPSPS which can confer glyphosate resistance. U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,061 to Barry, et al., also describes genes encoding EPSPS enzymes. For other polynucleotides and/or methods or uses see also U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,566,587; 6,338,961; 6,248,876; 6,040,497; 5,804,425; 5,633,435; 5,145,783; 4,971,908; 5,312,910; 5,188,642; 4,940,835; 5,866,775; 6,225,114; 6,130,366; 5,310,667; 4,535,060; 4,769,061; 5,633,448; 5,510,471; RE 36,449; RE 37,287; 7,608,761; 7,632,985; 8,053,184; 6,376,754; 7,407,913; and 5,491,288; EP1173580; WO01/66704; EP1173581; US2012/0070839; US2005/0223425; US2007/0197947; US2010/0100980; US2011/0067134; and EP1173582, which are incorporated herein by reference for this purpose. Glyphosate resistance is also imparted to plants that express a gene that encodes a glyphosate oxido-reductase enzyme, as described more fully in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,776,760 and 5,463,175, which are incorporated herein by reference for this purpose. In addition, glyphosate resistance can be imparted to plants by the over expression of genes encoding glyphosate N-acetyltransferase. See, for example, US2004/0082770; US2005/0246798; and US2008/0234130 which are incorporated herein by reference for this purpose. A DNA molecule encoding a mutant aroA gene can be obtained under ATCC Accession No. 39256, and the nucleotide sequence of the mutant gene is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,061 to Comai. European Patent Appl. No. 0 333 033 to Kumada, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,374 to Goodman, et al., disclose nucleotide sequences of glutamine synthetase genes which confer resistance to herbicides such as L-phosphinothricin. The nucleotide sequence of a PAT gene is provided in European Patent Appl. No. 0 242 246 to Leemans, et al. DeGreef, et al., Bio/Technology, 7:61 (1989) describe the production of transgenic plants that express chimeric bar genes coding for phosphinothricin acetyl transferase activity. Exemplary of genes conferring resistance to phenoxy proprionic acids and cyclohexones, such as sethoxydim and haloxyfop are the Acc1-S1, Acc1-S2, and Acc2-S3 genes described by Marshall, et al., Theor. Appl. Genet., 83:435 (1992).

C. An herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis, such as a triazine (psbA and gs+ genes) and a benzonitrile (nitrilase gene). Przibila, et al., Plant Cell, 3:169 (1991), describe the transformation of Chlamydomonas with plasmids encoding mutant psbA genes. Nucleotide sequences for nitrilase genes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,648 to Stalker and DNA molecules containing these genes are available under ATCC Accession Nos. 53435, 67441, and 67442. Cloning and expression of DNA coding for a glutathione S-transferase is described by Hayes, et al., Biochem. J., 285:173 (1992). The herbicide methyl viologen inhibits CO.sub.2 assimilation. Foyer et al. (Plant Physiol., 109:1047-1057, 1995) describe a plant overexpressing glutathione reductase (GR) which is resistant to methyl viologen treatment.

D. Acetohydroxy acid synthase, which has been found to make plants that express this enzyme resistant to multiple types of herbicides, has been introduced into a variety of plants. See, Hattori, et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 246:419 (1995). Other genes that confer tolerance to herbicides include a gene encoding a chimeric protein of rat cytochrome P4507A1 and yeast NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (Shiota, et al., Plant Physiol., 106:17 (1994)); genes for glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase (Aono, et al., Plant Cell Physiol., 36:1687 (1995)); and genes for various phosphotransferases (Datta, et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 20:619 (1992)).

E. Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO; protox) is the target of the PPO-inhibitor class of herbicides; a PPO-inhibitor resistant PPO gene was recently identified in Amaranthus tuberculatus (Patzoldt et al., PNAS, 103(33):12329-2334, 2006). PPO is necessary for the production of chlorophyll, which is necessary for all plant survival. The protox enzyme serves as the target for a variety of herbicidal compounds. These herbicides also inhibit growth of all the different species of plants present, causing their total destruction. The development of plants containing altered protox activity which are resistant to these herbicides are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,288,306, 6,282,837, 5,767,373, and International Publication WO 01/12825.

F. Genes that confer resistance to auxin or synthetic auxin herbicides. For example an aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase (AAD) gene may confer resistance to arlyoxyalkanoate herbicides, such as 2,4-D, as well as pyridyloxyacetate herbicides, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,283,522, and US2013/0035233. In other examples, a dicamba monooxygenase (DMO) is used to confer resistance to dicamba. Other polynucleotides of interest related to auxin herbicides and/or uses thereof include, for example, the descriptions found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,119,380; 7,812,224; 7,884,262; 7,855,326; 7,939,721; 7,105,724; 7,022,896; 8,207,092; US2011/067134; and US2010/0279866.

G. Genes that confer resistance to glufonsinate containing herbicides. Examples include genes that confer resistance to LIBERTY®, BASTA™, RELY™ FINALE™, IGNITE™, and CHALLENGE™ herbicides. Gene examples include the pat gene, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,017,756 which describes event A5547-127. In other examples, methods include the use of one or more chemicals to control weeds, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,407,913.

Any of the above listed herbicide resistance genes (A-G) can be introduced into the claimed soybean cultivar through a variety of means including but not limited to transformation and crossing. In certain embodiments, a potential locus conversion that confers herbicide resistance may confer resistance to herbicides such as, for example, imidazolinone herbicides, sulfonylurea herbicides, triazine herbicides, phenoxy herbicides, cyclohexanedione herbicides, benzonitrile herbicides, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase-inhibiting herbicides, protoporphyrinogen oxidase-inhibiting herbicides, acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase-inhibiting herbicides, bromoxynil, nicosulfuron, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), dicamba, quizalofop-p-ethyl, glyphosate, or glufosinate.

3. Genes that Confer or Contribute to a Value-Added Trait, Such as:

A. Modified fatty acid profile(s), for example, by: 1) Down-regulation of stearoyl-ACP desaturase to increase stearic acid content of the plant. See, Knultzon, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:2625 (1992). 2) Elevating oleic acid via FAD-2 gene modification and/or decreasing linolenic acid via FAD-3 gene modification (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,063,947; 6,323,392; 6,372,965; and International Publication WO93/11245). 3) Altering conjugated linolenic or linoleic acid content, such as in WO01/12800. Altering LEC1, AGP, milps, and various Ipa genes such as Ipa1, Ipa3, hpt or hggt. For example, see WO02/42424; WO98/22604; WO03/011015; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,423,886; 6,197,561; and, 6,825,397; US2003/0079247; US2003/0204870; WO02/057439; WO03/011015; and Rivera-Madrid et al. (1995) PNAS USA 92:5620-5624.

B. Altered phosphorus content: 1) Introduction of a phytase-encoding gene enhances breakdown of phytate, adding more free phosphate to the transformed plant. For example, see, Van Hartingsveldt, et al., Gene, 127:87 (1993), for a disclosure of the nucleotide sequence of an Aspergillus niger phytase gene. 2) Modulating a gene that reduces phytate content. For example in maize this could be accomplished by cloning and then re-introducing DNA associated with one or more of the alleles, such as the LPA alleles, identified in maize mutants characterized by low levels of phytic acid, such as in WO05/113778; and/or by altering inositol kinase activity as in WO02/059324; U.S. Pat. No. 7,067,720; WO03/027243; US2003/0079247; WO99/05298; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,197,561; 6,291,224; and 6,391,348; WO98/45448; WO99/55882; and WO01/04147.

C. Altered carbohydrates, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,232,529 (method of producing high oil seed by modification of starch levels (AGP). In other examples the genes relate to altered stachyose or raffinose levels in soybean, including, for example, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,471,107; WO93/007742; and WO98/045448. The fatty acid modification genes mentioned herein may also be used to affect starch content and/or composition through the interrelationship of the starch and oil pathways.

D. Altered antioxidant content or composition, such as alteration of tocopherol or tocotrienols. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,787,683, 7,154,029, WO 00/68393 (involving the manipulation of antioxidant levels through alteration of a phytl prenyl transferase (ppt)); WO 03/082899 (through alteration of a homogentisate geranyl geranyl transferase (hggt)).

E. Altered essential seed amino acids. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,600 (method of increasing accumulation of essential amino acids in seeds); U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,913 (binary methods of increasing accumulation of essential amino acids in seeds); U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,389 (high lysine); WO99/40209 (alteration of amino acid compositions in seeds); WO99/29882 (methods for altering amino acid content of proteins); U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,016 (alteration of amino acid compositions in seeds); WO98/20133 (proteins with enhanced levels of essential amino acids); U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,802 (high methionine); U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,801 (high threonine); U.S. Pat. No. 6,664,445 (plant amino acid biosynthetic enzymes); U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,019 (increased lysine and threonine); U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,274 (plant tryptophan synthase beta subunit); U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,403 (methionine metabolic enzymes); U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,599 (high sulfur); U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,414 (increased methionine); WO98/56935 (plant amino acid biosynthetic enzymes); WO98/45458 (engineered seed protein having higher percentage of essential amino acids); WO98/42831 (increased lysine); U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,436 (increasing sulfur amino acid content); U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,223 (synthetic storage proteins with defined structure containing programmable levels of essential amino acids); WO96/01905 (increased threonine); WO95/15392 (increased lysine); U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,930,225; 7,179,955; 6,803,498; US2004/0068767; and WO01/79516.

F. Altered amounts of protein and fatty acid in the seed.

4. Genes that Control Male Sterility:

There are several methods of conferring genetic male sterility available, such as multiple mutant genes at separate locations within the genome that confer male sterility, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,654,465 and 4,727,219 to Brar, et al., and chromosomal translocations as described by Patterson in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,861,709 and 3,710,511. In addition to these methods, Albertsen, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,068, describes a system of nuclear male sterility which includes: identifying a gene which is critical to male fertility; silencing this native gene which is critical to male fertility; removing the native promoter from the essential male fertility gene and replacing it with an inducible promoter; inserting this genetically engineered gene back into the plant; and thus creating a plant that is male sterile because the inducible promoter is not “on” resulting in the male fertility gene not being transcribed. Fertility is restored by inducing, or turning “on,” the promoter, which in turn allows the gene that confers male fertility to be transcribed. Male sterile soybean lines and characterization are discussed in Palmer (2000) Crop Sci 40:78-83, and Jin et al. (1997) Sex Plant Reprod 10:13-21.

A. Introduction of a deacetylase gene under the control of a tapetum-specific promoter and with the application of the chemical N—Ac-PPT. See, International Publication WO 01/29237.

B. Introduction of various stamen-specific promoters. See, International Publications WO 92/13956 and WO 92/13957.

C. Introduction of the barnase and the barstar genes. See, Paul, et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 19:611-622 (1992).

For additional examples of nuclear male and female sterility systems and genes, see also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,859,341, 6,297,426, 5,478,369, 5,824,524, 5,850,014, and 6,265,640, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

5. Genes that Create a Site for Site Specific DNA Integration:

This includes the introduction of FRT sites that may be used in the FLP/FRT system and/or Lox sites that may be used in the Cre/Loxp system. See, for example, Lyznik, et al., Site-Specific Recombination for Genetic Engineering in Plants, Plant Cell Rep, 21:925-932 (2003) and WO 99/25821, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Other systems that may be used include the Gin recombinase of phage Mu (Maeser, et al. (1991); Vicki Chandler, The Maize Handbook, Ch. 118 (Springer-Verlag 1994)); the Pin recombinase of E. coli (Enomoto, et al. (1983)); and the R/RS system of the pSR1 plasmid (Araki, et al. (1992)).

6. Genes that Affect Abiotic Stress Resistance:

Genes that affect abiotic stress resistance (including but not limited to flowering, pod and seed development, enhancement of nitrogen utilization efficiency, altered nitrogen responsiveness, drought resistance or tolerance, cold resistance or tolerance, high or low light intensity, and salt resistance or tolerance) and increased yield under stress. For example, see: WO 00/73475 where water use efficiency is altered through alteration of malate; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,892,009, 5,965,705, 5,929,305, 5,891,859, 6,417,428, 6,664,446, 6,706,866, 6,717,034, 6,801,104, WO 2000/060089, WO 2001/026459, WO 2001/035725, WO 2001/034726, WO 2001/035727, WO 2001/036444, WO 2001/036597, WO 2001/036598, WO 2002/015675, WO 2002/017430, WO 2002/077185, WO 2002/079403, WO 2003/013227, WO 2003/013228, WO 2003/014327, WO 2004/031349, WO 2004/076638, WO 98/09521, and WO 99/38977 describing genes, including CBF genes and transcription factors effective in mitigating the negative effects of freezing, high salinity, and drought on plants, as well as conferring other positive effects on plant phenotype; U.S. Publ. No. 2004/0148654 and WO 01/36596, where abscisic acid is altered in plants resulting in improved plant phenotype, such as increased yield and/or increased tolerance to abiotic stress; WO 2000/006341, WO 04/090143, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,531,723 and 6,992,237, where cytokinin expression is modified resulting in plants with increased stress tolerance, such as drought tolerance, and/or increased yield. See also, WO 02/02776, WO 2003/052063, JP 2002281975, U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,153, WO 01/64898, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,177,275 and 6,107,547 (enhancement of nitrogen utilization and altered nitrogen responsiveness). For ethylene alteration, see, U.S. Publ. Nos. 2004/0128719, 2003/0166197, and WO 2000/32761. For plant transcription factors or transcriptional regulators of abiotic stress, see, e.g., U.S. Publ. Nos. 2004/0098764 or 2004/0078852.

Other genes and transcription factors that affect plant growth and agronomic traits, such as yield, flowering, plant growth, and/or plant structure, can be introduced or introgressed into plants. See, e.g., WO 97/49811 (LHY), WO 98/56918 (ESD4), WO 97/10339, U.S. Pat. No. 6,573,430 (TFL), 6,713,663 (FT), 6,794,560, 6,307,126 (GAI), WO 96/14414 (CON), WO 96/38560, WO 01/21822 (VRN1), WO 00/44918 (VRN2), WO 99/49064 (GI), WO 00/46358 (FRI), WO 97/29123, WO 99/09174 (D8 and Rht), WO 2004/076638, and WO 004/031349 (transcription factors).

Tissue Culture

Methods using seeds, plants, cells, or plant parts of cultivar P-17 in tissue culture are provided, as are the cultures, plants, parts, cells, and/or seeds derived therefrom. Tissue culture of various tissues of soybeans and regeneration of plants therefrom is well known and widely published. For example, see Komatsuda et al. (1991) Crop Sci 31:333-337; Stephens et al. “Agronomic Evaluation of Tissue-Culture-Derived Soybean Plants” (1991) Theor Appl Genet 82:633-635; Komatsuda et al. “Maturation and Germination of Somatic Embryos as Affected by Sucrose and Plant Growth Regulators in Soybeans Glycine gracilis Skvortz and Glycine max (L.) Merr.” (1992) Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture 28:103-113; Dhir et al. “Regeneration of Fertile Plants from Protoplasts of Soybean (Glycine max L. Men.): Genotypic Differences in Culture Response” (1992) Plant Cell Rep 11:285-289; Pandey et al. “Plant Regeneration from Leaf and Hypocotyl Explants of Glycine wightii (W. and A.) VERDC. var. longicauda” (1992) Japan J Breed 42:1-5; and Shetty et al. “Stimulation of In Vitro Shoot Organogenesis in Glycine max (Merrill.) by Allantoin and Amides” (1992) Plant Sci 81:245-251; U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,944, to Collins et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,200, to Ranch et al., the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. Thus, another aspect is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiation produce soybean plants having the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean cultivar P-17.

As used herein, the term “tissue culture” indicates a composition comprising isolated cells of the same or a different type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of a plant. Exemplary types of tissue cultures are protoplasts, calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that can generate tissue culture that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, flowers, seeds, pods, petioles, leaves, stems, roots, root tips, anthers, pistils, and the like. Means for preparing and maintaining plant tissue culture are well known in the art. By way of example, a tissue culture comprising organs has been used to produce regenerated plants. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,959,185, 5,973,234, and 5,977,445 describe certain techniques, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Industrial Uses of Soybean Cultivar P-17

Soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts of cultivar P-17 may be used or processed for food, animal feed, or a raw material(s) for industry. Seeds from cultivar P-17 can be crushed, or a component of the seeds can be extracted in order to make a plant product, such as protein concentrate, protein isolate, soybean hulls, meal, flour, or oil for a food or feed product. Methods of producing a plant product or a commodity plant product, such as protein concentrate, protein isolate, soybean hulls, grain, meal, flour, or oil for a food or feed product by processing the plants, plant parts or grain disclosed herein are provided. Also provided are the protein concentrate, protein isolate, soybean hulls, grain, meal, flour, or oil produced by the methods.

Table

Table 2 below shows the 2019 and 2020 yield data for soybean cultivar P-17 versus several Corn States checks. The data was taken from replicated trials (4 reps) in 5′×20′ plots in Weiner, Ark. Column 1 shows the variety name, column 2 shows the 2020 yield in grams (g), column 3 shows the 2019 yield in grams (g), and column 4 shows the height in centimeters (cm).

TABLE 2 2020 yield 2019 yield Height Variety (g) (g) (cm) P-17 3046 3754 106.7 3942NS 1636 3470 66.0 4462NS 2606 4045 76.2 5322N 3132 4014 83.8 5512N 3959 3795 71.1 4852NS 3960 4233 96.5 OSAGE 4016 3239 76.2 5012N 4052 4033 86.4

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. For example, if the range 10-15 is disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Deposit Information

A deposit of the soybean seed of this invention is maintained by Eagle Research LLC, P.O. Box 391, Weiner, Ark. 72479, U.S.A. Access to this deposit will be available during the pendency of this application to persons determined by the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to be entitled thereto under 37 C.F.R. § 1.14 and 35 U.S.C. § 122. Upon allowance of any claims in this application, all restrictions on the availability to the public of the variety will be irrevocably removed by affording access to a deposit of at least 625 seeds of the same variety with the American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va. or National Collections of Industrial, Food and Marine Bacteria (NCIMB), 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB24 3RY, United Kingdom.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions, and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. 

1. A plant or seed of soybean cultivar P-17, wherein a representative sample of seed of said cultivar was deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-______.
 2. A plant part of the plant of claim 1, wherein the plant part comprises at least one cell of said plant.
 3. A soybean plant, or a plant part thereof, expressing all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of soybean cultivar P-17, wherein a representative sample of seed of said cultivar was deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-______.
 4. A method of producing a soybean seed, wherein the method comprises crossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or a second soybean plant to produce said soybean seed.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method comprises crossing the plant of soybean cultivar P-17 with a second, distinct soybean plant to produce said soybean seed.
 6. A soybean seed produced by the method of claim
 5. 7. A soybean plant produced by growing the seed of claim
 6. 8. A composition comprising the seed of claim 1 comprised in plant seed growth media.
 9. The composition of claim 8, wherein the growth media is soil or a synthetic cultivation medium.
 10. A plant of soybean cultivar P-17 further comprising a single locus conversion, wherein a representative sample of seed of said cultivar was deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-______.
 11. The plant of claim 10, wherein the single locus conversion comprises a transgene.
 12. A seed that produces the plant of claim
 10. 13. The seed of claim 12, wherein the single locus conversion that comprises a nucleic acid sequence that enables site-specific genetic recombination or confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, modified seed yield, modified oil percent, modified lodging resistance, modified shattering, modified iron-deficiency chlorosis, abiotic stress resistance, altered seed amino acid composition, and modified carbohydrate metabolism.
 14. The seed of claim 13, wherein the single locus conversion that confers herbicide tolerance confers tolerance to benzonitrile herbicides, cyclohexanedione herbicides, imidazolinone herbicides, phenoxy herbicides, sulfonylurea herbicides, triazine herbicides, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase-inhibiting herbicides, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase-inhibiting herbicides, acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides, protoporphyrinogen oxidase-inhibiting herbicides, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), bromoxynil, dicamba, glufosinate, glyphosate, nicosulfuron, or quizalofop-p-ethyl.
 15. The seed of claim 12, wherein the single locus conversion comprises a transgene.
 16. The method of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises: (a) crossing a plant grown from said soybean seed with itself or a different soybean plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation; (b) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself or a second plant to produce a progeny plant of a further subsequent generation; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) using said progeny plant of a further subsequent generation from step (b) in place of the plant grown from said soybean seed in step (a), wherein steps (a) and (b) are repeated with sufficient inbreeding to produce an inbred soybean plant derived from the soybean cultivar P-17.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising crossing said inbred soybean plant derived from the soybean cultivar P-17 with a plant of a different genotype to produce a seed of a hybrid soybean plant derived from the soybean cultivar P-17.
 18. A method of producing a genetically modified soybean plant, wherein the method comprises mutation, gene conversion, genome editing, RNA interference, or gene silencing of the plant of claim
 1. 19. A genetically modified soybean plant produced by the method of claim 18, wherein said plant comprises said mutation, gene conversion, genome edit, RNA interference, or silenced gene and otherwise comprises all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean cultivar P-17.
 20. A method of producing a commodity plant product, comprising obtaining the plant of claim 1, or a plant part thereof, and producing the commodity plant product from said plant or plant part thereof, wherein said commodity plant product is selected from the group consisting of protein concentrate, protein isolate, grain, soybean hulls, meal, flour, and oil.
 21. A commodity plant product produced by the method of claim 20, wherein the commodity plant product comprises at least one cell of soybean cultivar P-17. 